Day 156: A true harbinger of Spring, Indian Plum is one of the first shrubs to flower here in western Washington, emerging shortly after the early pussywillows have turned yellow and just before Skunk Cabbage heads poke up in the bogs. Also known as Osoberry, the astringent fruits were mixed with oolichan grease by native peoples to make a local version of pemmican. There is very little flesh in the fruit which resembles chokecherry to some degree. Ripe berries are dusty purple in color. The flower has a peculiar and not altogether pleasant scent, and the shrub seldom exceeds 15 feet in height.
No comments:
Post a Comment