Devil's Club (
Oplopanax horridum) is hard to miss if you are walking by it on the trail. It has huge (up to 18 inches) maple style leaves, with the underside covered in sharp thorns! The flower cluster is tall and lacks color, sticking up above the leaves. It prefers the moist woodlands (think Columbia Gorge). The berry is an attractive bright red cluster that stands out in a sea of green.
Surprisingly, the monster plant had many medicinal and practical uses for native people in the area. The woody branches made fishing lures and spears, the berries were mashed and used as a shampoo, and the leaves were used in tea to treat diabetes. (6/06/2013)
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| Stub Stewart State Park, 6/06/2009 |
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| Stub Stewart State Park, 6/06/2009 |
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| Near Fairy Falls, Columbia River Gorge, 8/07/2009 |
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| Near Fairy Falls, Columbia River Gorge, 8/07/2009 |
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