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Talent Station 8: An Old Horse Tail

THE NUMEROUS NARROW GREEN SHAFTS that you see in this area are horsetails (Equisetum sp.), a relative of the giant fossil plants that are found in the coal deposits formed millions of years ago in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Horsetails have a high silica content, which makes them raspy and is the origin of their other common name, scouring rush. Early pioneers along Bear Creek used these plants to clean their cast iron pots and pans.

Walk another few yards and on the right is an Oregon grape bush (Berberis aquifolium). The Oregon state flower is not a true grape but does produce edible purple berries. The Takelma used its bark to dye basket materials a subtle yellow. It is an extremely tough prickly bush that grows over much of the state and is frequently used as a landscape plant.

Next to the bench up ahead is a young bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). Bigleaf maple is not a major component of the Greenway but is commonly found growing here. It is the only western maple with commercial importance. Maple is made into furniture, veneer, tool handles, and other woodenware. Northwest coast Indians used it for canoe paddles, bowls, platters, and spoons; they often prepared food on its large leaves.