Ho-Chunk Ethnobotany
Cup Plant, Silphium perfoliatum, Thurston County, Nebraska
        Ethnobotany is the study of how a culture views the plant world around it. Here,
            Ho-Chunk ethnobotany focuses on how the Ho-Chunk people of Nebraska have
            and currently interact with the plant world.

    What follows is a very simplified version of some of the Ho-Chunk ethnobotany
            currently documented. Latin names are used because Ho-Chunk names are not
            currently known for each plant. The list is arranged by Latin name, common name,
            Ho-Chunk name, and the use of the plant


    Important: To properly view this page, please download the New Hocak font to the Fonts folder located on the
         C: drive of your computer. The path is C:/Windows/Fonts. When you download this file, drag and drop it
          into this folder. The font is at:  http://hocaklanguage.com/PhraseLink.htm
 
~            Achillea millifolium, Yarrow, Ha\ksi\c -- Leaves used to stop wounds bleeding.

            Acorus calamus, Calamus or Bitterroot, Ma\ka\keres~ -- Used to control blood sugar and for colds.

            Artemesia ludoviciana, White sage, Xawiska -- Used for ceremonies, cleansing, treating colds.

            Asclepias syriaca, Common milkweed, Mahi\c -- Widely used for spring and summer greens, often in
                soup, also called mahi\c.

            Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey Tea or Indian Tea, Cawaruc -- Used to make a good-tasting tea.

            Fragaria virginiana, Wild strawberry, Has~je[k -- Eaten fresh

            Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichoke, Pa\hi -- Roots used in soup.

             Hiercoloe odorata, Sweetgrass, Ma\na\sge -- Burned as incense during ceremonies.
 

 

            Liatris scariosa, Rough blazing star, Cesi\c hos~;ok -- A tea of the leaves and roots used for stomachache.
 

 

            Monarda fistulosa, Bee balm, Poaxu\ -- Flowers and leaves used for skin problems.

            Prunus virginiana, Wild plum, Ka\c -- Used for fresh and dried food.

            Psoralea escuelenta, Prairie turnip, Toke[wihi -- Dug up before the leaves break off. Stored dry for use
                in soup.

            Rosa arkansana, Wild rose, Has~suc --  A tea of wild rose and other plants has been used to treat
                bleeding wounds.

            Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot, Pex hisuc -- Root used as a dye and for medicines.

            Ulmus rubra, Red elm, Wakirikirik --Wood used in construction, fires and fibers used to make rope.
                   Inner bark used for medicine.


   To contact the grant researchers at Little Priest Tribal College, please call Al Martyn, (402) 878-3343.
*** Last updated March 7, 2008 ***


To access some other fine ethnobotanical information, please visit this link:

This is a database based on the work of Daniel Moerman. He wrote the reference work Native American Ethnobotany. The database includes the information from the book and more recent information. It has a search engine for searches by tribe or by plant (common name or Latin name).   http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ Thank you, Dr. Moerman!