Fabaceae Oxytropis sericea Nutt.

Silvery Oxytrope

Blackfoot - Other, Jewelry

Use documented by:
Hellson, John C., 1974, Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa. National Museums of Canada. Mercury Series, page 115

View all documented uses for Oxytropis sericea Nutt.

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Scientific name: Oxytropis sericea Nutt.
USDA symbol: OXSES (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: Silvery Oxytrope
Family: Fabaceae
Family (APG): Fabaceae
Native American Tribe: Blackfoot
Use category: Other
Use sub-category: Jewelry
Notes: Stems used by children to make headdresses. The headdresses were worn during a single-file dance to different spots while singing a song. The seeds would rattle in their pods. Then the leader would suddenly stop and look behind him while the others dropped to the ground. The leader struck whoever remained standing with a smoking stick which he carried. Then he took some of the seeds of the plant, chewed them and applied the mixture to the burn. Shortly, the irritation stopped and the game continued with changing leaders.

RECRD: 4083 id: 25254

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