Salal
(Scientific Name: Gaultheria
shallon)
Description:
A freely branching evergreen shrub 1-6 feet tall frequently forming
dense thickets; stems are red and hairy when young; leaves are
leathery, alternate, pointed at the apex and rounded at the base.
White or pink urn-shaped flowers are born in a one-sided raceme. The
fleshy fruit is nearly black, about 3/8 inch across, and has a
distinctive star-like marking on the head
Habitat: Very abundant in the forests west of
the Cascade Mountains and along the coast from Alaska to California.
Uses: Jams, jellies and pies made from salal
berries are excellent, and there is usually no difficulty in picking
large quantities of them in late summer when they ripen. Northwest
Indians mashed the berries and dried them in cakes to be used during
the winter.
