Every part of the the long stems, up to 10' (3+ m), and its large (up to 1' across) maple-like leaves bristles with long yellow spines. Ironically, while producing painful wounds to humans, Devil's Club is a preferred browse species fo elk (ref. Moir). It also had innumerable medicinal and other uses by aboriginal people and tea is made today from the inner bark as a treatment for diabetes (ref. Pojar). Above the platform of large leaves is the "club", a pyramid spike of greenish flowers that turn to the bright red shiny berries. Common is moist forests to 5,000' elevation.
Trail Notes:
Trail/Hike: South Puyallup River/Emerald Ridge
Date: August 14, 2003
Location: in vicinity of the colonnades of columnar andesite (photo)
