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Salal

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	Salal
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	Topics Salal Topic Home Salal or shallon (Gaultheria shallon, EricaceaeEricaceae The plant family Ericaceae are mostly lime-hating or calcifuge plants that thrive in acid soils.... ) is a leathery-leaved shrub native to western North AmericaNorth America North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... . Its dark blue "berries" (actually swollen sepalSepal A sepal is an individual unit of the *calyx* of a flower.... s) are edible and are efficient appetite suppressants, with a unique flavor. Salal berries were a significant food resource for native people, who both ate them fresh and dried them into cakes. They were also used as a sweetenerSweetener A sweetener is a food additive which adds the basic taste of sweetness to a food; artificial sweeteners are sugar sub... , and the HaidaHaida The Haida are an indigenous people of the west coast of North America.... used them to thicken salmon eggs. The leaves of the plant were also sometimes used to flavor fish soup. More recently, salal berries are used locally in jams, preserves and pies. They are often combined with Oregon-grapeOregon-grape Oregon-grape is an evergreen shrub related to the barberry.... because the tartness of the latter makes up for the mild sweetness of salal. Salal is very tolerant of both open sun and shady conditions. In coastal areas it can form deep, nearly impenetrable thickets. It grows as far north as Baranof IslandBaranof Island Baranof Island, also sometimes called Baranov Island or Sitka Island, is an island in the Alexander Archipelago ... , AlaskaAlaska Alaska is a U.S. state, located on the northwest tier of North America.... . In the Pacific Northwest, the harvesting of Salal is the heart of a large export of evergreens in which it is sold to florists worldwide for use in floral arrangements. Salal was introduced to Britain in 1828 by David DouglasDavid Douglas David Douglas was a Scottish botanist.... , who intended the plant to be used as an ornamentalOrnamental plant An ornamental plant is a plant that is grown for its ornamental qualities, rather than for its commercial or other value.... . There it is usually known as shallon, or more commonly simply Gaultheria, and is believed to have been planted as cover for pheasantPheasant Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes.... s on shooting estates. It readily colonises heathland and acidic woodland habitats in southern England, often forming very tall and dense evergreen stands which smother other vegetation. Although heathland managers widely regard it as a problem weed on unmanaged heathland, it is readily browsed by cattle (especially in winter), and so where traditional grazing management has been restored the dense stands become broken up and the plant becomes a more scattered component of the heathland vegetation. Medicinal properties Salal has been used for its medicinal properties by local natives for generations. The medicinal uses of this plant are not widely known or used. However, the leaves have an astringent effect, making it an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-cramping herb. By preparing the leaves in a tea or tincture one can take the herb safely to decrease internal inflammation such as bladder inflammation, stomach or duodenal ulcers, heartburn, indigestion, sinus inflammation, diarrhea, moderate fever, inflamed / irritated throat, and menstrual cramps. A poultice of the leaf can be used externally to ease discomfort from insect bites and stings. Links USDA Plant Profile - http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GASH