Today SodaBoy and I walked up to the quarry, and hiked the rim trail all the way around. We stopped for a break at the highest point of the cliffs on the northeast end. Growing not far off the trail, I saw these pretty little yellow flowers:
It turns out the plant is not a holly, but Mahonia aquifolium (also known as Berberis aquifolium). Native to the Pacific northwest, holly-leaved barberry is the state flower of Oregon, and is also known by the common name of Oregon-grape. The plant is collected from the wild for medicinal use, harvested to the point where there is some concern over the long-term viability of the species in its native range. It is also used in landscaping and is known to be adventive, especially in the east, where it is not native.
The species is not documented from my county, and in fact, is only known from one county in my state, quite a long distance from here. The population I saw today was small enough that were this a native plant, I absolutely would not collect a voucher specimen. The plants behind my house are hardly thriving either. I do not think this species is a big threat in my area at this time. But who knows what the future will bring? This could be important information.
Unfortunately, the quarry rim trail is not a hike that can be managed in the evening after work. Our spring has been late but hot, so accelerated that plants I saw just starting to flower last weekend are in fruit already. If this trend continues, I'll have to collect an Oregon-grape voucher specimen later in the season. At least then I will be able to see the "grapes" for myself.
Sources: PLANTS Database, NatureServe, Flora of North America.
5 comments:
That's an interesting find. I wonder how it got there. It's a common plant here on the lower levels of the mountains, and is also widely used in native plant landscaping. Bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers.
The "grapes" ripen in late summer. They're edible, but extremely sour. Always fun to trick the new person into trying one.
P.S. I got a Canon EOS Rebel XTi. Love it!
Geez, I think I've seen it in NY--I would have sworn I had, but . . .
could it be planted, does it have to be escaped/feral/naturalized?
Or maybe I am just remembering when it was common in Idaho--that's one of the things that happens when you get old.
My theory on how the plants got there is that they were used in nearby landscaping--then birds ate the fruit, and spread the seeds, along with some fertilizer. They were not planted where they are growing, as it is an abandoned uncared for place, but there are both private homes and a golf course within 1/4 mile.
Hugh, I'll have to remember to sample the fruit. It does sound like a fun trick.
Mary, you very well may have seen Oregon-grape in NY. The database I checked only includes vouchered records, so someone would have had to collect and press a specimen, and provide it to a participating herbarium. The database is also not updated terribly frequently, so a specimen could have been collected, and just not shown up yet.
Well, I thought I had. But I haven't checked my spotty records and like I said, I might be misremembering with other locals I have lived.
purty flowers! :-D
People often underappreciate small flowers.
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