Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region by Melvin R. Gilmore

Author:Melvin R. Gilmore [Gilmore, Melvin R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8032-7401-3
Publisher: UNP - Nebraska
Published: 2014-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

LATHYRUS ORNATUS Nutt. Wild Sweet Pea.

Hinbthisi-tanga (Omaha-Ponca), large-seeded hinbthi bean (si, seed; tanga, large).

My informants could describe it and tell in what locality it is to be found. They remembered it as they formerly saw it in the Sand Hills when they went there on the hunt. Children sometimes gathered the pods, which they roasted and ate in sport. The plant was not considered of any importance, although noted and named.

OXALIDACEAE

IONOXALIS VIOLACEA (L.) Small. Sheep Sorrel, Violet Wood Sorrel, and XANTHOXALIS STRICTA (L.) Small. Yellow Wood Sorrel. Ḣade-sathe (Omaha-Ponca), “sour herb” (ḣade, herb, grass; sathe, sour).

Pawnee: Various names were given. Skidadihorit, a name having reference to its taste, which they describe as “sour like salt”; some called it kait, salt; another name given was askirawiyu; as, foot; kira, water; wiyu, stands. Another name given is kisosit. The Pawnee say that the buffalo was very fond of Xanthoxalis stricta. Children ate both species, especially Ionoxalis violacea, leaves, flowers, scapes, and bulbs. The bulbs were pounded and fed to horses to make them fleet.

LINACEAE

LINUM LEWISII Pursh. Wild Flax.

The seeds of the wild blue flax were gathered and used in cookery both because of their highly nutritive value and for the agreeable flavor which they added to that with which they were cooked.

RUTACEAE

ZANTHOXYLUW AMERICANUM Mill. Prickly Ash.

Hakasits (Pawnee), thorn.

Omaha young men used the fruits of this shrub as a perfume. By the Pawnee the fruits were used as a remedy for horses in case of retention of urine.

MELIACEAE

MELIA AZEDERACH L. China Berry.

Makanzhide sabe (Omaha-Ponca), “black ‘red-medicine.’”

Introduced into the Southern States early in the nineteenth century, it has become naturalized, growing freely along the streams of Oklahoma. It has large, smooth black seeds inclosed in the waxy, yellow translucent fruits, which are borne in great profusion. The seeds have been utilized for beads by the tribes acquainted with them. The Omaha traveling into Oklahoma have found them there, and have taken up their use. They already had employed for beads as well as for a good-luck charm the bright red seed of a species of Erythrina. They say it grows somewhere to the southwest, toward or in Mexico. They call it “red medicine,” makan zhide (makan, medicine; zhide, red). When the seeds of Melia were adopted for use as beads they likened them to makan zhide, and so call them makan-zhide sabe, “black red-medicine.”

EUPHORBIACEAE

CROTON TEXENSIS (Klotzsch) Muell. Arg.

One Pawnee informant said that very young babies, when sick, were bathed with a decoction of leaves of this plant.

CHAMAESYCE SERPYLLIFOLIA (Pers.) Small.

Naze-ni pezhi (Omaha-Ponca), “milkweed” (naze-ni, milk; pezhi, weed or herb).

According to a Ponca informant this plant was boiled and the decoction drunk by young mothers whose flow of milk was scanty or lacking, in order to remedy that condition. This use of the plant is probably prescribed according to the doctrine of signatures. An Omaha informant said it was used as a remedy in case of dysentery and abdominal bloating in children. For this purpose the leaves of the plant were dried and pulverized and

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