DAISY FLEABANE (Erigeron annuus) Technology: When burned the plant may keep insects away. DOGBANE (Apocynum cannabinum) Note: Also called Indian Hemp or Hemp Dogbane. Ceremony: A charm is made with the plant to be used against 'bad medicine' or evil influence. Medicine: The roots are used for heart stimulants. Mashed leaves are used for rheumatism and applied to wounds. Technology: The inner bark is stripped from the fresh plant and the resulting fibers can be twisted into two-ply string, strong fishing line or bow strings, or used to weave baskets and mats. DOGWOOD (Cornus species) Note: When dogwoods flowered in the spring, it indicated the planting time for corn. Ceremony: The leaves of some varieties of Dogwood were used in smoking mixtures including Red Osier dogwood (C. stolonifera) and the C. rugosa type of dogwood. The root of C. alternifolia was also used in a charm that was applied to muskrat traps. Medicine: C. alternifolia was used to make an eye medicine by the Chippewa. The bark was simmered in water and used on aching muscles and a bark tea was used to promote sweating and break a fever. Technology: The inner bark of Red Ossier dogwood was used in mixtures for red, black and yellow dyes. The hardness of the wood makes it good for carving durable items. GOLDENROD (Solidago odora) Note: Doesn't have airborne pollen. Doesn't cause hayfever suffers as ragweed does. Medicine: Leaves and flowers are made into a tea for intestinal and urinary disorders. Technology: A deep yellow dye is produced from the flowers. GROUND PINE (Lycopodium clavatum) Note: A miniature relative of a prehistoric tree that reached over 100 ft. a million years ago. Medicine: Used in medicine for stiff joints. HICKORY (Carya Species) Note: The name comes from the Native American word pawcohiccora, for a gruel made from the nuts. Food: Both the Shagbark (C. ovata) and the Mockernut (C. tomentosa) hickory have edible nuts in early autumn. Pounded nut meats were boiled slowly and the resulting oil was skimmed from the surface of the water and used as butter. Nuts of the Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) are to bitter for food and are also avoided by most animals. Medicine: Inhaling the fumes of fresh hickory shoots placed on hot stones was used by Chippewa for convulsions. Technology: Also known as Bow Wood for the use in making archery bows. The wood was also used by Iroquois for frames in birch bark canoe making. Splints of hickory were used to reinforce the rims of bark containers. The stripped inner bark of hickory was used for lashing. To make a rattle, a small sheet of hickory bark was folded over on itself, forming a hollow that could contain seeds or small stones. The hole in the handle was stopped up with a segment of dried corn cob. HOG PEANUT (Amphicarpase monica) Food: A single large seed ripens on this vine. Medicine: Also with the common name hog peanut (Falcata comosa) a reddish bean from this vine was used by the Chippewa as a physic. HOP HORNBEAM (Ostrya virginiana) Note: Also called Iron wood Medicine: Chippewa used the wood at the heart of the branch in making a cough syrup, and in a medicine for kidney disorders. Technology: The wood is very strong as the name implies and was used for the frames for dwellings, and from the crooks of branches, pothooks were made to suspend cooking vessels over fires. GREEN FALSE HELLEBORE (Veratrum viride) Note: Also called Indian Poke. White Hellebore (Veratrum speciosum) is called Indian itchweed. Ceremony: Legend holds the plant was used in the selection of 'chiefs'. The root of the plant was used as an endurance drug, and status was afforded to men who came through the experience. Dry root of the White Hellebore was pounded and snuffed. Food: All parts of the plant are poisonous. Medicine: Said to be an antidote to madness. The roots were mashed and applied to snakebite. |