Plant Name:  Manzanita

Botanical Name:  Arctostaphylos species

Native Name: Kelel

Height/Physical Description:  10 to 12 feet in height and width.  Red-brown bark and dark green leaves.  Pink flowers bloom in Spring.  Berries follow in June through September.

Use:  Food, medicine, construction materials and habitat support.  The berries were used to eat fresh and to make beverages.  The seeds inside the berries were used to make mush or cakes. The wood from Manzanita was used for house construction.  The wood was also used to make very hot fires with long-lasting coals.  Pipes and small tools could also be made from the stems.  Habitat support:  wild game such as deer, mountain sheep, squirrels, chipmunks, kangaroo rats, and birds were drawn to Manzanita for its berries, which created both a rich hunting and gathering opportunity.

Harvesting: The berries were harvested from June through September.

Preparation:  When the berries were slightly red, they were considered ready to use for beverages.  The pulp was mashed, mixed with water and strained into a drink.  The leftover seeds were ground into a meal to make mush or cakes.

Medicinal tea:  leaves were mixed with tobacco or steeped in water to make a tea to treat diarrhea or poison oak rash.