Oregon Grape

Description:

It has evergreen holy like leaves. In early spring it blooms with clusters of small yellow flowers. It yields purple grape looking, edible but very bitter berries.

Habitat:

Mostly evergreen forest. This one was spotted in the nature preserve at Elk Rock Island, on the Willamette river, in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Notes:

Edible Plant: According to Wikipedia, "The small purplish-black fruits, which are quite tart and contain large seeds, are included in smaller quantities in the traditional diets of Pacific Northwest aboriginal peoples, mixed with Salal or another sweeter fruit. Today they are sometimes used to make jelly, alone or mixed with salal.[1] Oregon grape juice can be fermented to make wine, similar to European barberry wine folk traditions, although it requires an unusually high amount of sugar.[2] The inner bark of the larger stems and roots of Oregon-grape yield a yellow dye; the berries give purple dye.[3] As the leaves of Oregon-grape are holly-like and resist wilting, the foliage is sometimes used by florists for greenery and a small gathering industry has been established in the Pacific Northwest." Medicinal Plant: According to Wikipedia, "Some Plateau Indian tribes used Oregon-grape to treat dyspepsia.[8] The plant is used medicinally by herbalists. Oregon-grape root is commonly used medicinally as an effective alternative to the threatened goldenseal.[citation needed] Both plants similarly contain the alkaloid berberine, known as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial used in the treatment of infection.[9][unreliable source?] Certain extracts from Mahonia aquifolium may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis,[10][11][12] although side effects include rash and a burning sensation when applied.[10] Recent studies indicate that M. aquifolium contains a specific multidrug resistance pump inhibitor (MDR inhibitor) named 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin (5'-MHC) which works to decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics and antibacterial agents.[13]"