Fairybells, Including the Saskatchewan Rough-fruited Fairybell (Prosartes trachycarpa

Prosartes is a genus of flowering plants in the lily family. For several decades plants of this genus were included in genus Disporum. Later studies of morphology and cytology, as well as genetic analysis, show the North American plants to be different from the Asian genus (Disporum)

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Rough-fruited Fairybells, Prosartes trachycarpa, Saskatchewan Rough-fruited Fairybells or  Rough-Fruited Mandarin, shown directly above, is a member of the genus Prosartes of perennial flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. The flowers are delicate and hang down. It has stamens that hang down well below the petals of the flowers, and conspicuously rough-skinned velvety surfaced orange to red berries with 6-12 seeds. The berry is larger than a Saskatoon, Pincherry or Chokecherry, about the size of a grocery store, red cherry or small grape. The rough-fruited fairybell can also be found in the same locales as other native fruits such as Saskatoons, Pincherries and Chokecherries. This perennial is 12 inches to 24 inches in height. The leaves alternate and are about 1 inch to 3 inches in length.The berries begin a yellow colour, then change to orange and when fully ripe, to red. The surface of the fruit feels fuzzy and velvety.

Prosartes trachycarpa is found in much of Western Canada. They are listed amongst plants found in the Prince Albert National Park and Riding Mountain National Park and are considered a common range plant of northern Saskatchewan.

Hookers Fairybells, Prosartes hookerhas smooth berries with 4-6 seeds

Apparently, the berries of these plants were not widely eaten by North American Native peoples; and many of the once existing British Columbia tribes considered them to be poisonous. However it has been recorded that the Thompson and Shuswap peoples ate the berries raw; and that the rough- fruited fairbells were called (in their purely oral language) what would now be translated as false raspberries. Translation of another previous, and commonly used, name; would be dog feet.
© Al (Alex, Alexander) D Girvan. All rights reserved.