Paleo Foraging

Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake

Common name: Snowberry

Pomo: sä-kä’ hī – “tobacco wood” (from its use for tobacco pipes) (Chesnut 1902)

Little Lake & Yokia: bu-kwâl’ (Chesnut 1902)

Yuki: âl-lôn-gō’-bl (Chesnut 1902)

Form: low shrub, shrub.

Medicine

Fruit or leaves – crushed and applied to wet sores, chapped or injured skin, or to scabs of cuts and burns to promote healing with no scarring by the Flathead (Hart 1979:277). An infusion of the fruits was applied to sore eyes by Cree (Leighton 1985:62).

Whole plant – an infusion was drunk and applied externally to treat skin rash (Leighton 1985:62).

Material

Branches – medium-sized branches were made into arrows by Indians of northern California (Chesnut 1902). They were also used as the revolving shafts for drilling holes into shells (that were then made circular) that were used for money (Chesnut 1902). The pith was hollowed and used as pipe stems (Chesnut 1902). Slender twigs were bound together by the Yokia and used as a broom for sweeping (Chesnut 1902). The wood is very light and pithy, yet strong and durable (Chesnut 1902).