Watermelon berry (Streptopus amplexifolius), also called twisted stalk, is found in "wet woods and alder thickets." It has small whitish flowers which turn into plump red, oblong fruit which dangle below the leaves. The flavor is watery but refreshing. Hulten “reports that both the berries and young shoots are edible.” (Kari 1995) Beware, however, as the light blue-green foliage in spring can resemble false hellebore!

The Dena'ina of Seldovia use the young shoots as greens, and the fruit are reported as edible, although the plant is not generally used by the Dena'ina otherwise. (Kari 1995) Some Dena’ina say the fruit is poisonous. “Bristol Bay Eskimos” also “commonly eat” the shoots of twisted stalk. (Schofield 1998) Homer locals eat the berries. 

Watermelon berry “belongs to the lily family, a beautiful group that includes the very poisonous death camass and false hellebore. Streptopus, however, is indeed safe and is a definite favorite in my household,” according to Janice Schofield, in Discovering Wild Plants. Harvest “young, succulent shoots” in spring. Harvest “plump red berries” in summer. “Color deepens with age.” (Schofield 1998)

References

Hultén, Eric. Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories: A Manual of the Vascular Plants, 1968.

Kari, Priscilla Russell. Tanaina Plantlore Dena’ina K’et’una: An Ethnobotany of the Dena’ina Indians of Southcentral Alaska. Alaska Native Language Center (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Alaska Natural History Association, National Park Service, fourth edition, 1995. 

Russell, Priscilla N. English Bay and Port Graham Alutiiq Plantlore. Pratt Museum (Homer Society of Natural History), Chugach Heritage Foundation, and Alaska Native Plant Society, 1991.

Schofield, Janice J. Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, The Northwest, fourth printing. Anchorage, AK, Alaska Northwest Books, 1998.

Viereck, Eleanor G. Alaska’s Wilderness Medicines: Healthful Plants of the Far North. Alaska Northwest Books, Fifth printing, 1995.

Author

Cecelia N. Dailey, 28 August 2025