Hul’q’umi’num’ Language & Culture Society presents

Plants in the Hul’q’umi’num’ World

“A Salmonberry. (Rubus spectabilis)” by Alan Vernon, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Hul'q'umi'num' name:

lila’ – salmonberry fruit

English Name:

Salmonberry

Scientific Name:

Rubus spectabilis

Click/tap on the button to jump to that section:

Language
Learn More
Photos

Description

Description, Habitat, Ecology, Distribution

Salmonberry is an erect, largely unarmed shrub that attains a height of 4 m (13 ft) and spreads by underground stems called rhizomes to form dense thickets. This is a deciduous species whose leaves typically have three leaflets. It produces pink to reddish-purple (magenta) flowers and edible fruits that range in colour from yellow to red to purple. It grows in moist to wet areas from low to subalpine elevations along the coast.

Language

Hul'q'umi'num' Name

lila’ – salmonberry fruit

APA

lilaʔ

Speaker

Ruby Peter

Hul'q'umi'num' Name 2

lila’ulhp – salmonberry shrub

APA

lilaʔəłp

Speaker

Bill Seward

Learn More

Photos

Search

Find plants using a variety of methods:

Featured Plant

speenhw | Camas

speenhw | Camas

Common camas is a perennial herb that grows from a deep bulb producing grasslike leaves and pale to deep blue (occasionally white) flowers. Camas is found in grassy slopes and meadows at low to middle elevations. It occurs on southeast Vancouver Island and at other locations along the coast southward. Great camas is very similar, though less common, and may be found in similar areas.
Camas bulbs may be roasted and eaten, and are said to be sweet and chewy. They have been gathered from island bluffs and baked, steamed or roasted in hot ashes, or mashed and formed into patties and then roasted on special flat rocks at the edge of the fire. It has a sweet taste similar to marshmallows. There were strict rules about who could harvest where and when. And our ladies tended the camas plots to make sure that they thrived. The dried camas would be put away in the winter box and used in soups during the winter time, along with wild onions, and wapato.