Clark: February 11, 1806

Tuesday February 11th 1806. This Morning Serjt. Gass R. Field and J.
Thompson passed the Netul opposit to us on a hunting expedition. Sent
Serjeant Natl. Pryor with 4 men in a Canoe to bring gibson to the Fort.
also Sent Colter & P. Weser to the Salt works to carry on the business
with Jos. Field; as bratten is also Sick we derected that he Should return
to the fort if he continued unwell; There is Shrub which grows Commonly in
this neighbourhood which grows on the Steep Sides of the hills and also in
low moist grounds, and rise to the hight of 5 or 6 feet with a large
peteolate, Spreading plain crenate and Somewhat woolly leaf like the rose
raspberry. it is much branched the bark of a redish brown colour and is
covered with a number of Short hooked thorns which renders it extreamly
disagreeable to pass among, it does not cast its foliage untill about the
1st of December.

There is a Species of bryor which is common in this neighbourhood of a
green colour which grows most abundant in the rich dry lands near the
water courses, but is also found in Small quantities in the piney lands at
a distance from the water Courses in the former Situations the Stem is
frequently the Size of a mans finger and rise perpendicularly to the hight
of 4 or 5 feet when it decends in an arch and becoms procumbent or rests
on Some neighbouring plant or Srubs; it is Simple unbranched and
celindric; in the latter Situation it is much Smaller, and usially
procumbent. the Stem is armed with Sharp and hooked bryors. the leaf is
peteolate, ternate and resembles in Shape and appearance that of the
purple Raspberry common to the atlantic States. The frute is a berry
resembling the Blackberry in every respect and is eaten when ripe and much
esteemed by the nativs but is not dryed for winters Consumption. in the
Countrey about the enterance of the quick Sand rivers I first discovered
this bryor, it grows So abundantly in the furtile Vally of Columbia and on
the Islands in that part of the river, that the Countrey near the river is
almost impenitrable in maney places. This green Bryor retains its leaf or
foliage and virdue untill late in December. The Briory bush with a wide
leaf is also one of its ascociates.