On The Tip Of My Tongue

Day 135: Oemleria cerasiformis is one of the first shrubs to come into bloom in the spring here in the Pacific Northwest. "Oemleria cerasiformis," I said to myself as I passed the first one, "Oemleria...it's on the tip of my tongue...hang on...I know it...it'll come to me...WHAT THE HELL IS THE COMMON NAME?" I gave it another quarter mile of think before I started going through the alphabet. I was pretty sure there was an i-vowel sound in it. "Ia..ib...ic...id. That rings a bell. Ie...if...ig..." and in another quarter of a mile, I'd hit "in" which, coupled with "id" made me yell "INDIAN PLUM!" to an otherwise empty (thank heavens!) forest. After a relatively botany-free winter, it always takes me a while to get the synapses to snap into place. I used to have trouble with Cardamine every year (another early bloomer) until I put it into storage as "something to do with 'heart,'" but it has never been in my mental database as "bittercress." In late summer, Indian Plum (the Oemleria under discussion) makes small oval fruits consisting primarily of a large seed and a little skin. That said, they were used as a foodstuff by native peoples here which, under analysis for calories vs. effort gives one a much greater appreciation of how tough it is to survive as a hunter-gatherer.

Fruit Of The Indian Plum

Day 251: Now more often referred to by the name of Osoberry, Oemleria cerasiformis will be listed in many field guides as "Indian Plum." I learned it that way, and since the "oso-" prefix means "bear" and an entirely different plant is called "Bearberry," I find it difficult to shift to the new common name. Again I will say it: this is why I prefer the Latin nomenclature. There can be no mistaking Oemleria for Arctostaphyllos. Yes, bears do enjoy these small "plums" when they can get them, and it's not uncommon to find bear scat liberally salted with the stones which resemble a cherry pit, but most likely the birds will beat them to the fruit. The native peoples of the area used the thin flesh in pemmican, and made tea of the leaves and bark. The wood rarely reaches a sufficient diameter to be of any major use, but is straight-grained and strong, and can be carved to make spoons, knitting needles and other small implements.

Indian Plum, AKA Osoberry

Day 172: If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you may know this shrub as "Indian Plum,"although that name is slowly giving way to the preferred term, "Osoberry." It is unique in that it is the sole member of the genus Oemleria; no kith, no kin, no cousins except at a great distance where it joins the subfamily of Amygdaloideae and thence enters the family Rosaceae along with true plums and other fruits, as well as roses and cotoneasters. Oemleria cerasiformis is a stone fruit, as anyone who has ever tried to suck any edible sustenance off one of its thinly skinned pits can attest. The flesh is nearly non-existent and rather puckery on the tongue. One might do better to harvest the leaves and/or bark for tea, leaving the purple "plums" to the birds. I've heard that the wood is fine-grained and strong, and suitable for making knitting needles, bobbins and small carvings. Hmmm...I feel a project coming into fruit.

Oemleria Cerasiformis, Indian Plum

Day 181: Commonly known as Indian Plum or Osoberry, Oemleria cerasiformis is unique in that it is the only member of its genus. Moving up the scale, we can see that it is a member of the Rosaceae, a botanical Family with such widely diverse "cousins" as roses, rowan trees and raspberries, almonds, apricots and apples. It is a dioecious shrub, which is to say that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, and its fruits are considered edible, if bitter. The fruit is yellowish-red when immature, darkening to a reddish-purple when ripe. Its leaves and bark may also be used to make tea, although I can't speak to its desirability as such. As I have said repeatedly, many plants which are considered "edible" do not necessarily fall into the narrower category of "desirable as food," which is to say that you could assuage a burning hunger by eating them without poisoning yourself, although you wouldn't consider serving them up to guests. I think I'll give Oemleria tea a miss, thank you.

Indian Plum, Oemleria Cerasiformis

Day 159: Less commonly known as "Osoberry," Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is one of the first shrubs to flower in the Pacific Northwest. Typically, the leaves emerge as the inflorescence is developing, upright above a pendent cluster of greenish-white to white flowers. Male and female flowers are borne on different plants; the fruit resembles a small plum, pink in its early stages and maturing to a powdery blue-purple. The flesh of the fruit is quite sparing, though, little more than skin wrapped around a single pit. As a member of the cherry tribe, Oemleria's fruit, although considered edible, contains a small amount of cyanide which gives it a bitter taste until fully ripe. Best to leave this one for the birds!

Indian Plum, Oemleria Cerasiformis

Day 144: One of the earliest spring blooms, Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is a twiggy deciduous shrub common in western Washington. Also called "Oso Berry," it bears small oval fruits in a cluster, pale when immature and reddish-black when ripe. Although the fruit is considered edible, it is rather bitter and best left for the birds.

Indian Plum, Oemleria Cerasiformis

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.