Marah oreganus is also called Coastal Manroot. It's range generally lies within 100 miles of the coast from Oregon south to central California.

Although its range extends the farthest north of all members of the genus, M. oreganus is generally confined to the mild climate areas adjacent to the Pacific coast. More inland populations are usually associated with river valleys such as along the Snake River in western Idaho.

M. oreganus leaves are the largest of the genus. Plants growing in the redwood forests at the northern end of the range have glossy leaves with few hairs and more rounded lobes. More southern populations show more genus-typical hairyness and more maple-like pointed lobing.

Flowers are white and appear in clusters on upright male bloomstems with solitary female flowers hanging from the base of the bloomstem.

M. oreganus has distinctive pointed, green-striped fruit covered with large flexible spikes. The seeds of M. oreganus are unique for the genus: Rather than the typical smooth bullet-shape, coast manroot seeds are instead round and flat with a rougher surface.

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