Twin Flower

"Twin Flower" (Linnaea borealis)

2007 June 14

2007 June 14

2007 June 25

I first found this dainty, little flower in our own back yard but then spotted it near the many woodland paths near our place.

Snowberry

"Western Snowberry" (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

2007 July 7

Notice that the flowers are stalkless with "long styles that are hairy near the middle and stick out from the floral tube". This is what distinguishes the "Western Snowberry" from the "Common Snowberry" the latter having "short stalked, sparsely clustered flowers with hairless styles that do not stick out from the floral tube".

2007 August 9

2007 August 9

This shrub can be seen all over this area, especially down by the lake. It produces an abundance of white berries that are unfortunately not really edible. Some Native peoples did make a tonic out of them to relieve sore eyes and other peoples used them as a cure for diarrhea. The berries overwinter, food for the birds when times are tough!

"Common Snowberry" (Symphoricarpos albus)

2007 July 2 (Vancouver)
The leaves also are slightly different.

Black Twin Berry

"Black Twin Berry" (Lonicera involucrata)

2008 June 1

2008 June 1

2008 June 1

2008 June 18

2008 June 8
... but taken at Sea Level, while the flower pictures were taken at
945 meters (elevation).

Black bears, grizzlies and birds will eat these berries and they won't really harm you either, but they are bitter. Here, you will find a number of references as to how this berry was, or was not, used by the various Aboriginal Peoples.

A few references said that the juice of the crushed berries and the inner shavings of the stem are steeped in warm water until the liquid turns a green or yellow color were used to treat cataracts and were applied to the eyes as drops.