Schizonotus argenteus var. ariifolius (Sm.) Kuntze
Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor (Pursh) Kuntze
Schizonotus ariifolius (Sm.) Greene
Schizonotus discolor (Pursh) Raf.
Sericotheca discolor (Pursh) Rydb.
Sericotheca franciscana Rydb.
Spiraea ariifolia Sm.
Spiraea discolor Pursh
Thecanisia discolor (Pursh) Raf.
Holodiscus discolor, commonly known as ocean spray or oceanspray, creambush, or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America.[3][4][5]
Description
Holodiscus discolor is a fast-growing deciduousshrub usually from to 1.2–1.5 metres (4–5 feet) in width, and up to 2.1 m (7 ft) tall. Its alternate leaves are small, 5–9 centimetres (2–3+1⁄2 inches) long and 4–7 cm (1+1⁄2–3 in) broad, lobed, juicy green when new.[6] The young branches have longitudinal ridges.
Cascading clusters of white flowers drooping from the branches give the plant its two common names. The flowers have a faint sweet, sugary scent. The bloom period is May to July.
It bears a small, hairy fruit containing one seed which is light enough to be dispersed by wind.
It is found in both openings and the common understory shrub in a variety of forest overstories from 300–1,300 m (980–4,270 ft) in elevation. In open mountain habitat in the Sierra Nevadas it can be found as high as 3,500 m (11,500 ft). It is found in a variety of habitats, from moist coastal forests to drier, cooler mountains of inland California. The plant is found in areas prone to wildfire, and it is often the first green shoot to spring up in an area recovering from a burn. It is commonly found in chaparral communities, a fire ecology ecosystem which evolved with burning periodically. It also may grow in areas cleared by logging.
Historically, the plant has been used by Indigenous peoples for many purposes.[10] Raw and cooked seeds were eaten,[11] and leaves were mixed with those of other plants and boiled with small game animals.[12] Many tribes used the wood and bark for making tools and furniture. Noted for the strength of its wood, it was often used for making digging sticks, spears, arrows, bows, harpoons and nails. The wood, like with many other plants, was often hardened with fire and was then polished using horsetail.[13]
Comox natives use oceanspray when flowering as an indicator of the best time to dig for butter clams.[14]
Medicinal
The Lummi used the flowers as an antidiarrheal and the leaves as a poultice. Several First Nations, such as the Stl'atl'imx, would steep the berries in boiling water to use as a treatment for diarrhea, smallpox, chickenpox and as a blood tonic.[5]
^The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.[full citation needed]
^Reiner, Ralph E. (1969). Introducing the Flowering Beauty of Glacier National Park and the Majestic High Rockies. Glacier Park, Inc. p. 12.
^Pojar; J, MacKinnon, A.; Alaback, P., et al. 1956/1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska, ISBN978-1-55105-530-5
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