Marah oregana (Coast Manroot)
Credit: Jason Johns
about the species
Marah oregana occurs along the northern portion of the California coast ranges and then extends northward to British Columbia. Its habitat is in shrubby or open areas and forest edges. Like other species of Marah, it annually produces herbaceous vines from a large underground tuber. M. oregana spheric fruits (4-8 cm) that taper to a beak with dense prickles. See Marah fabacea for more about this genus.
why species was selected
Like a number of California plant groups, Marah species form a replacement series around the central valley with different species primarily found in southern, central or northern portions of the coast ranges or Sierra Nevada. The genus was important to indigenous Californians, who used it to stun fish and as a soap.
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