ABSTRACT
The native distribution of salai includes the West coast of North America from southeast Alaska to southern California. The plant has become naturalized in northwestern Europe, where it is sometimes regarded as a pest. The species occurs in woods, coastal bluffs, cliffs, bogs, forest edges, clear-cuts, and roadsides, in moist or dry, rocky or sandy soils. Salai berries were the most important staple fruit of most indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast. The aromatic berries remain an important food for them. They are consumed fresh or dried. Commonly the berries were cooked and preserved as cake-like masses, subsequently rehydrated and eaten in various foods or used as a sweetener or flavorant Immigrants to the West coast frequently adopted the Indian practice of preparing salai berry preserves.
