| Lens culinaris Medik. Lentil USDA LECU2 |
Pima Food, Unspecified Species used for food. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 120 |
| Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (D. Don) R. Br. ex Ser. Fireleaf Leptarrhena USDA LEPY |
Aleut Drug, Misc. Disease Remedy Infusion of leaves taken for 'sicknesses such as influenza.' Bank, II, Theodore P., 1953, Botanical and Ethnobotanical Studies in the Aleutian Islands II. Health and Medical Lore of the Aleuts, Botanical and Ethnobotanical Studies Papers, Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, page 427 |
| Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (D. Don) R. Br. ex Ser. Fireleaf Leptarrhena USDA LEPY |
Thompson Drug, Dermatological Aid Poultice of chewed, fresh leaves applied to wounds and sores. Steedman, E.V., 1928, The Ethnobotany of the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, SI-BAE Annual Report #45:441-522, page 465 |
| Lessoniopsis littoralis (Farlow & Setchell) Reinke Short Kelp |
Hesquiat Food, Dried Food Stipes and fronds with attached herring eggs dried for later use. These strong, tough seaweeds grow in the subtidal and intertidal zones. Sometimes, herring spawn on the stipes and fronds of these short kelps, and then the plants are gathered and dipped briefly in hot water or dried for later use. The spawn is taken off the longer types and the alga discarded, or, in the case of the broad, leafy types, the alga is eaten along with the eggs. If the kelps with spawn are dried first, they are simply soaked in water before being eaten. Turner, Nancy J. and Barbara S. Efrat, 1982, Ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians of Vancouver Island, Victoria. British Columbia Provincial Museum, page 24 |
| Leymus condensatus (J. Presl) A. L”ve Giant Wildrye USDA LECO12 |
Cahuilla Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Fire hardened stems used as the main shaft in arrowmaking. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 69 |
| Leymus condensatus (J. Presl) A. L”ve Giant Wildrye USDA LECO12 |
Luiseno Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Fire hardened stems used as the main shaft in arrowmaking. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 69 |
| Liatris punctata Hook. Dotted Gayfeather USDA LIPUP |
Kiowa Food, Unspecified Springtime, sweet roots baked over a fire and eaten. Vestal, Paul A. and Richard Evans Schultes, 1939, The Economic Botany of the Kiowa Indians, Cambridge MA. Botanical Museum of Harvard University, page 61 |
| Liatris punctata var. punctata Dotted Gayfeather USDA LIPUP |
Kiowa Food, Unspecified Springtime, sweet roots baked over a fire and eaten. Vestal, Paul A. and Richard Evans Schultes, 1939, The Economic Botany of the Kiowa Indians, Cambridge MA. Botanical Museum of Harvard University, page 61 |
| Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehd. Tanoak USDA LIDED2 |
Pomo, Kashaya Other, Ceremonial Items Acorns used in a first fruits ceremony in October after the first rainfall. Goodrich, Jennie and Claudia Lawson, 1980, Kashaya Pomo Plants, Los Angeles. American Indian Studies Center, University of California, Los Angeles, page 83 |
| Lomatium californicum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance California Lomatium USDA LOCA3 |
Yurok Other, Ceremonial Items Thrown into the fire at ceremonies. Baker, Marc A., 1981, The Ethnobotany of the Yurok, Tolowa and Karok Indians of Northwest California, Humboldt State University, M.A. Thesis, page 37 |
| Lomatium cous (S. Wats.) Coult. & Rose Cous Biscuitroot USDA LOCO4 |
Oregon Indian Food, Soup Roots and fish used to make stew. These roots were eaten at the first feast of the new year. This was called the Root Feast. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 12 |
| Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance Fernleaf Buscuitroot USDA LODID2 |
Paiute, Northern Drug, Cold Remedy Root chips thrown on the fire and fumes inhaled or roots sliced, boiled and eaten for colds. Fowler, Catherine S., 1989, Willards Z. Park's Ethnographic Notes on the Northern Paiute of Western Nevada 1933-1940, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 129 |
| Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance Fernleaf Buscuitroot USDA LODID2 |
Sanpoil Food, Special Food Shoots mixed with balsamroot and featured in the 'first roots' ceremony. Turner, Nancy J., R. Bouchard and Dorothy I.D. Kennedy, 1980, Ethnobotany of the Okanagan-Colville Indians of British Columbia and Washington, Victoria. British Columbia Provincial Museum, page 66 |
| Lomatium macrocarpum (Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray) Coult. & Rose Bigseed Biscuitroot USDA LOMA3 |
Shuswap Food, Spice Roots used to flavor dried salmon heated with dried bread over an open fire. Palmer, Gary, 1975, Shuswap Indian Ethnobotany, Syesis 8:29-51, page 57 |
| Lupinus perennis L. Sundial Lupine USDA LUPEP3 |
Menominee Drug, Veterinary Aid Plant used to fatten a horse and make him spirited and full of fire. Smith, Huron H., 1923, Ethnobotany of the Menomini Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee 4:1-174, page 40 |
| Lycium fremontii Gray Fremont's Desertthorn USDA LYFR |
Papago Food, Fruit Berries used for food. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 62 |
| Lycoperdon sp. Puffball |
Blackfoot Other, Ceremonial Items Used in the Firelighters bundle of the Horn Society for use as punk to light a fire easily. Hellson, John C., 1974, Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa. National Museums of Canada. Mercury Series, page 38 |
| Lycoperdon sp. Puffball |
Blackfoot Other, Designs Small, painted circles at the base of the tipi represented puffballs to insure fire to those within. Hellson, John C., 1974, Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa. National Museums of Canada. Mercury Series, page 38 |
| Lysichiton americanus Hult‚n & St. John American Skunkcabbage USDA LYAM3 |
Kwakiutl Drug, Dermatological Aid Poultice of leaf, oil, down and Douglas fir bark applied to carbuncles. Turner, Nancy Chapman and Marcus A. M. Bell, 1973, The Ethnobotany of the Southern Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia, Economic Botany 27:257-310, page 270 |
| Macrocystis integrifolia Bory Giant Kelp |
Hesquiat Other, Toys & Games Children threw dried, little floats from blade base onto fire to make them explode; firecrackers. Turner, Nancy J. and Barbara S. Efrat, 1982, Ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians of Vancouver Island, Victoria. British Columbia Provincial Museum, page 24 |
| Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link Starry False Solomon's Seal USDA MAST4 |
Navajo, Kayenta Drug, Ceremonial Medicine Plant used in the Fire Dance. Wyman, Leland C. and Stuart K. Harris, 1951, The Ethnobotany of the Kayenta Navaho, Albuquerque. The University of New Mexico Press, page 17 |
| Malus coronaria var. coronaria Sweet Crabapple USDA MACO5 |
Iroquois Food, Dried Food Raw or cooked fruit sun or fire dried and stored for future use. Waugh, F. W., 1916, Iroquis Foods and Food Preparation, Ottawa. Canada Department of Mines, page 129 |
| Malus pumila P. Mill. Cultivated Apple USDA MAPU |
Iroquois Food, Dried Food Raw or cooked fruit sun or fire dried and stored for future use. Waugh, F. W., 1916, Iroquis Foods and Food Preparation, Ottawa. Canada Department of Mines, page 129 |
| Matricaria discoidea DC. Disc Mayweed USDA MADI6 |
Cheyenne Other, Incense & Fragrance Leaves dried, powdered, mixed with fir or sweet grass and used as perfume. Hart, Jeff, 1992, Montana Native Plants and Early Peoples, Helena. Montana Historical Society Press, page 23 |
| Mentha arvensis L. Canadian Mint USDA MEAR4 |
Thompson Drug, Misc. Disease Remedy Infusion of plant taken to prevent influenza. One informant said that during the flu epidemic after the first World War, her grandmother made a big potful of mint tea. She and her family drank this and didn't get sick. Turner, Nancy J., Laurence C. Thompson and M. Terry Thompson et al., 1990, Thompson Ethnobotany: Knowledge and Usage of Plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, Victoria. Royal British Columbia Museum, page 233 |
| Mentha arvensis L. Canadian Mint USDA MEAR4 |
Thompson Food, Unspecified Greens warmed over an open fire and eaten with dried fish. Turner, Nancy J., Laurence C. Thompson and M. Terry Thompson et al., 1990, Thompson Ethnobotany: Knowledge and Usage of Plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, Victoria. Royal British Columbia Museum, page 233 |
| Mitchella repens L. Partridgeberry USDA MIRE |
Iroquois Food, Dried Food Raw or cooked fruit sun or fire dried and stored for future use. Waugh, F. W., 1916, Iroquis Foods and Food Preparation, Ottawa. Canada Department of Mines, page 128 |
| Monolepis nuttalliana (J.A. Schultes) Greene Nuttall's Povertyweed USDA MONU |
Papago Food, Unspecified Roots used for food. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 60 |
| Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry USDA MORUR |
Iroquois Food, Dried Food Raw or cooked fruit sun or fire dried and stored for future use. Waugh, F. W., 1916, Iroquis Foods and Food Preparation, Ottawa. Canada Department of Mines, page 128 |
| Myrica gale L. Sweetgale USDA MYGA |
Potawatomi Other, Insecticide Plant thrown onto the fire to make a smudge and keep away mosquitoes. Smith, Huron H., 1933, Ethnobotany of the Forest Potawatomi Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee 7:1-230, page 121 |
| Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex S. Wats. Coyote Tobacco USDA NIAT |
Hopi Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 109 |
| Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex S. Wats. Coyote Tobacco USDA NIAT |
Kawaiisu Other, Protection Leaves and lime placed in the camp fire to prevent supernatural beings from bothering you. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 43 |
| Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex S. Wats. Coyote Tobacco USDA NIAT |
Papago Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 109 |
| Nicotiana attenuata Torr. ex S. Wats. Coyote Tobacco USDA NIAT |
Pima Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 109 |
| Nicotiana obtusifolia var. obtusifolia Desert Tobacco USDA NIOBO |
Hopi Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 109 |
| Nicotiana obtusifolia var. obtusifolia Desert Tobacco USDA NIOBO |
Papago Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 108 |
| Nicotiana obtusifolia var. obtusifolia Desert Tobacco USDA NIOBO |
Pima Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 108 |
| Nicotiana quadrivalvis var. bigelovii (Torr.) DeWolf Bigelow's Tobacco USDA NIQUB |
Kawaiisu Other, Protection Leaves and lime placed in the camp fire to prevent supernatural beings from bothering you. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 43 |
| Nicotiana rustica L. Aztec Tobacco USDA NIRU |
Pima Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 111 |
| Nicotiana tabacum L. Cultivated Tobacco USDA NITA |
Navajo Other, Sacred Items Sacred plant depicted with beans, corn & squash in the first sacred painting of the Mountain Chant. Elmore, Francis H., 1944, Ethnobotany of the Navajo, Sante Fe, NM. School of American Research, page 75 |
| Nicotiana tabacum L. Cultivated Tobacco USDA NITA |
Papago Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 108 |
| Nicotiana tabacum L. Cultivated Tobacco USDA NITA |
Pima Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 108 |
| Nicotiana tabacum L. Cultivated Tobacco USDA NITA |
Pima Other, Smoke Plant Used for smoking. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 110 |
| Nolina microcarpa S. Wats. Sacahuista USDA NOMI |
Apache, Western Food, Unspecified Young stalks placed in fire, peeled and eaten. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 183 |
| Octoblephorum albidum Hedw. Moss |
Seminole Drug, Antirheumatic (External) Plant used for fire sickness: fever and body aches. Sturtevant, William, 1954, The Mikasuki Seminole: Medical Beliefs and Practices, Yale University, PhD Thesis, page 203 |
| Octoblephorum albidum Hedw. Moss |
Seminole Drug, Febrifuge Plant used for fire sickness: fever and body aches. Sturtevant, William, 1954, The Mikasuki Seminole: Medical Beliefs and Practices, Yale University, PhD Thesis, page 203 |
| Oemleria cerasiformis (Torr. & Gray ex Hook. & Arn.) Landon Indian Plum USDA OECE |
Tolowa Food, Fruit Fruit used for food. This was called the 'wood that lies' because it was the first to bloom in the spring and the last to set fruit. Baker, Marc A., 1981, The Ethnobotany of the Yurok, Tolowa and Karok Indians of Northwest California, Humboldt State University, M.A. Thesis, page 41 |
| Olneya tesota Gray Desert Ironwood USDA OLTE |
Cahuilla Other, Fuel Wood used for firewood. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 94 |
| Olneya tesota Gray Desert Ironwood USDA OLTE |
Papago Food, Unspecified Ground, leached seeds used for food. Castetter, Edward F. and Willis H. Bell, 1942, Pima and Papago Indian Agriculture, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. First Edition., page 60 |
| Olneya tesota Gray Desert Ironwood USDA OLTE |
Pima Other, Fuel Wood used for firewood. Curtin, L. S. M., 1949, By the Prophet of the Earth, Sante Fe. San Vicente Foundation, page 93 |