View photos of the edible and medicinal plant Arctostaphylos pringlei, (Pringle’s manzanita), profiled in Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest and the Wild Edible Series: Arizona and California.

A passage from Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest:

Manzanita is also a urinary tract astringent. The plant’s tannin complexes responsible for this tone lax urinary tract tissues by imparting a local tightening effect. Use it when there is dragging urinary pain in combination with dribbling of urine and mucus discharge.

A passage from Wild Edible plants of Arizona:

Most species of Manzanita have a very distinctive smooth, reddish–brown outward bark layer. The flowers are urn–shaped and form in hanging groups. Silk tassel (Garrya spp.) may be confused with Manzanita when not in season. Silk tassel’s fruit are purple–black and are non–edible. Manzanita is related to Madrone in edible/medicinal use. The two are of the same family.

A passage from Wild Edible plants of California:

They are eaten freely when encountered, but by far their best use is as a jelly base. Animals relish the fruit and they are a favorite of bears.