Common Name: Coffeeberry
Scientific Name: Rhamnus tomentella.
Angiosperm of Gymnosperm? Angiosperm, which is a flower/nut producing plant
Brief Description: The Coffeeberry tree can grow up to twenty feet tall and is most commonly found on the Central Coast. The fruits serve very useful to many varieties of wildlife while the bark and leaves are used for medicine. The Coffeeberry is not only an excellent garden plant, it is also a great anchor for erosive prone areas.
Scientific Name: Rhamnus tomentella.
Angiosperm of Gymnosperm? Angiosperm, which is a flower/nut producing plant
Brief Description: The Coffeeberry tree can grow up to twenty feet tall and is most commonly found on the Central Coast. The fruits serve very useful to many varieties of wildlife while the bark and leaves are used for medicine. The Coffeeberry is not only an excellent garden plant, it is also a great anchor for erosive prone areas.
Ethnobotany
The coffeeberry is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall. Native Americans of the west coast North America used the plant for food and medicine. The Ohlone people used the leaves to treat poison oak dermatitis. The Kawaiisu used the fruit to treat wounds such as burns. The bark was widely used as a laxative. Several groups ate the fruit fresh or dried. They resemble commercial coffee beans, however, attempts at using coffeberry as coffee substitute have not be successful. Coffeeberry is useful for erosion control on dry, steep hillsides and in the garden as a background plant. It can be distinguished by the silvery blue-gray leaves that are covered in tiny, flattened hairs. The branches and twigs range from gray to red in color and have a velvety texture.
The coffeeberry is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can grow up to 20 feet tall. Native Americans of the west coast North America used the plant for food and medicine. The Ohlone people used the leaves to treat poison oak dermatitis. The Kawaiisu used the fruit to treat wounds such as burns. The bark was widely used as a laxative. Several groups ate the fruit fresh or dried. They resemble commercial coffee beans, however, attempts at using coffeberry as coffee substitute have not be successful. Coffeeberry is useful for erosion control on dry, steep hillsides and in the garden as a background plant. It can be distinguished by the silvery blue-gray leaves that are covered in tiny, flattened hairs. The branches and twigs range from gray to red in color and have a velvety texture.
Natural Habitat
It grows in forest types including foggy coastal oak forests, redwood forests, and mountain coniferous forests.
It grows in forest types including foggy coastal oak forests, redwood forests, and mountain coniferous forests.
Flowers/Nuts
Flowers bloom in spring and then produce small fruits that change from green to red to black when ripe. The unripe white, star-shaped clusters are at the tip of branches. They are just under a centimeter long and contain two seeds that resemble coffee beans. The berries are great for attracting birds and other wildlife.
Flowers bloom in spring and then produce small fruits that change from green to red to black when ripe. The unripe white, star-shaped clusters are at the tip of branches. They are just under a centimeter long and contain two seeds that resemble coffee beans. The berries are great for attracting birds and other wildlife.
Leaves
Coffeeberry leaves are oval-shaped or elliptic, simple, and generally alternate. The leaves have thin blades in moist habitat, and smaller, thicker blades in dry areas. The small greenish flowers occur in clusters in the leaf axils. They are light green when they are young, maturing to dark green, often with red tips. The alternately arranged evergreen leaves are dark green above and paler on the undersides. The leaves are smooth and leathery, often two to four inches long.
Coffeeberry leaves are oval-shaped or elliptic, simple, and generally alternate. The leaves have thin blades in moist habitat, and smaller, thicker blades in dry areas. The small greenish flowers occur in clusters in the leaf axils. They are light green when they are young, maturing to dark green, often with red tips. The alternately arranged evergreen leaves are dark green above and paler on the undersides. The leaves are smooth and leathery, often two to four inches long.
Bark
The bark is used as a laxative in many places. The branches of the Coffeeberry may have a reddish hue and new twigs are often red as well.
The bark is used as a laxative in many places. The branches of the Coffeeberry may have a reddish hue and new twigs are often red as well.
Germination/Pollination
The plant reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by sprouting. After wildfire or cutting, the plant generally resprouts from its root crown. Seeds commonly reproduce around two to three years old.
The plant reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by sprouting. After wildfire or cutting, the plant generally resprouts from its root crown. Seeds commonly reproduce around two to three years old.
Plants/Animals
Seeds are mature in the fall. Seed dispersal is often accomplished by birds and some plants are so stripped of fruit by birds that hardly any seeds fall below the parent plant. Parts of the plant, including the foliage and fruit, are food for wild animals such as mule, deer, black bears, and many birds, as well as livestock.
Seeds are mature in the fall. Seed dispersal is often accomplished by birds and some plants are so stripped of fruit by birds that hardly any seeds fall below the parent plant. Parts of the plant, including the foliage and fruit, are food for wild animals such as mule, deer, black bears, and many birds, as well as livestock.
Creative Writing
References
Matson, Steve. Rhamnus californica. 2006. Plant - annual/perennial , Montana de Oro State Park.http://calphotos.berkeley.edu. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Rhamnus californica (California Coffeeberry) :: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. (n.d.). Homepage :: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.parksconservancy.org/conservation/plants-animals/native-plant-information/california-coffeeberry.html
Matson, Steve. Rhamnus californica. 2006. Plant - annual/perennial , Montana de Oro State Park.http://calphotos.berkeley.edu. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Rhamnus californica (California Coffeeberry) :: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. (n.d.). Homepage :: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.parksconservancy.org/conservation/plants-animals/native-plant-information/california-coffeeberry.html