Additional notes (click to expand)
Commemorative
Named for Nicholas Garry, Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company. He assisted, during 1820-1830, David Douglas in his explorations of the Pacific North-west.
Stearn, W.T. (1996). Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. Cassell.
Medicinal
The following notes apply to the species of this plant.
The leaves are intensely bitter and are used as an antiperiodic and febrifuge. They can be used as a quinine substitute. An infusion has been used to induce menstruation, probably acting as an abortifacient.
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Garrya+elliptica
In the traditional medicine of North America an infusion of the leaves was taken as an abortifacient.
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 p.243
Other use
Garrya elliptica Douglas ex Lindl. Garryaceae. Coast silk tassel. Evergreen shrub. Distribution: California and southern Oregon. Named for Nicholas Garry, Secretary of the Hudson Bay Company (1820-1830) who assisted David Douglas in his exploration of the Pacific Northwest (Stearn, 1992). Used by Pomo and Kashaya as an abortifacient and to induce menstruation (Moerman, 1998).
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes.
link
The Yurok indigenous peoples of California hardened the wood by fire and used it for mussel bars to pry the mussels off the rocks.
Moerman, Daniel E. (2009) Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 243
Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'
Family: GARRYACEAEGenus: Garrya
Species: elliptica
Cultivar: 'James Roof'
Common names: Silk-Tassel Bush, Feverbush, Quinine Bush
Distribution summary: Western U.S.A.
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: forested coastal margins
Garden status: Not currently grown
Flowering months: January, December
Reason for growing: Commemorative
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