MADRONE BERRIES

ARBUTUS PURSH OR MADRONE TREES HAVE MANY BERRIES RIPE DURING THE WINTER. THEY ARE ORANGISH RED AND HAVE BEEN EATEN BY MANY TRIBES AS WELL AS ANGLOS WHO EXPLORED HERE IN HISTORIC TIMES. IN 1769 PORTOLA'S EXPEDITION MENTIONED MADRONE BERRIES AS A FOOD FOR THE SALINAN, MIWOK, POMO AND CALIFORNIA TRIBES. THEY ALSO CRUSHED THEM FOR CIDER. THEY WERE KNOCKED OFF THE TREES AND COLLECTED INTO BASKETS OR ONTO A CLEARED AREA OF THE GROUND. SOME OF THE GATHERED BERRIES WERE EATEN IN SMALL QUANTITIES. OR THEY WERE COOKED AND DRIED FOR EATING LATER.

THEY HAVE A HIGH TANNIN CONTENT AND ARE ASTRINGENT. THE BERRIES WERE POUNDED INTO A COARSE MEAL. THEN THE MEAL WAS PLACED INTO A STRAINING BASKET AND WAS PLACED OVER ANOTHER BASKET SO TIGHTLY WOVEN THAT IT HELD WATER. ROCKS HEATED IN A FIRE WERE ADDED TO THE BASKET AND CONSTANTLY STIRRED. THE HEATED WAS POURED OVER THE MEAL UNTIL THE FLAVOR WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BERRIES.

THE BERRIES WERE USED ALSO AS BAIT TO CATCH STEELYARD. MIWOK AND OTHER TRIBES CHEWED THE LEAVES TO TREAT STOMACH ACHES AND CRAMPS. POMO MADE A TEA FROM THE BARK THAT WAS USED TO WASH SORES. BARK TEA WAS DRUNK TO TREAT COLDS AND SORE THROATS.

MANY BIRDS LOVE THESE BERRIES. THE TREES CAN RESPROUT AFTER A BURN AND PREVENT EROSION.

USDA NATIONAL PLANT DATA CENTER