The plant chosen for this hike was the Mountain Misery or Bear Clover (Chamaebatia foliolosa), named during the California Gold Rush for its large mats that cover large areas and its sticky leaves, which were a nuisance to miners. The sap is highly flammable and can be hazardous to firefighters. It is an evergreen, which makes it a pretty plant to look at even in the fall! Natives used it for all sorts of medicine, from colds to chickenpox. The plant belongs to the rose family and, unusually for other plants in its family, is documented to carry out nitrogen fixation. Don’t know too much about that, but it’s still neat!