Oregon Teatree 
(Buckbrush Chaparral)
Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh

Probably collected near Hungery Creek along the Lolo Trail in Idaho Co., Idaho, on 27 Jun 1806. (Source)

The Oregon Teatree is an open erect, loosely branched shrub up to 10 feet tall with slender, red branches with . slender, smooth, and purplish-red colored bark. The leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, ovate, 1 to 3 1/2 inches long, thin, dark green and glabrous above and paler below, margins serrated, 3-veined from the base. It has small white flowers borne in large, dense clusters up to 4 inches long. The fruit is small, 3-lobbed, rounded capsule up to 3/16 inches in diameter. Its twigs are slender, smooth, purplish-red in color and the buds often stalked.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.  This shrub grows best on relatively moist slopes in the open or in partial shade and is often most prominent at mid-slope. It is found reported at 2,400 to 4,000.

Food Uses
A tea is made from the leaves which is milder and sweeter than commercial tea.. 

Medical Uses
The teas were applied externally and taken internally to relieve alarm and nervousness. The roots were used to make medicinal teas for treating inflamed tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes, non-fibrous cysts, and enlarged spleens. This tea was also used a home remedy for excessive menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, hemorrhoids, old ulcers, and bleeding from vomiting or coughing. A  poultice of the dried, powdered bark has been applied to burns, sores and wounds.