| Betula papyrifera Marsh. Paper Birch USDA BEPAP |
Winnebago Other, Toys & Games Papery bark chewed to a pulp and used for popgun wads. Gilmore, Melvin R., 1919, Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region, SI-BAE Annual Report #33, page 116 |
| Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera Paper Birch USDA BEPAP |
Haisla and Hanaksiala Other, Decorations Wood used for carving. Compton, Brian Douglas, 1993, Upper North Wakashan and Southern Tsimshian Ethnobotany: The Knowledge and Usage of Plants..., Ph.D. Dissertation, University of British Columbia, page 226 |
| Betula populifolia Marsh. Gray Birch USDA BEPO |
Iroquois Drug, Hemorrhoid Remedy Decoction of bark taken for bleeding piles. Herrick, James William, 1977, Iroquois Medical Botany, State University of New York, Albany, PhD Thesis, page 300 |
| Betula populifolia Marsh. Gray Birch USDA BEPO |
Malecite Drug, Dermatological Aid Inner bark scrapings used for swelling in infected cuts. Mechling, W.H., 1959, The Malecite Indians With Notes on the Micmacs, Anthropologica 8:239-263, page 245 |
| Betula populifolia Marsh. Gray Birch USDA BEPO |
Micmac Drug, Dermatological Aid Inner bark used for infected cuts. Chandler, R. Frank, Lois Freeman and Shirley N. Hooper, 1979, Herbal Remedies of the Maritime Indians, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1:49-68, page 55 |
| Betula populifolia Marsh. Gray Birch USDA BEPO |
Micmac Drug, Emetic Inner bark used as an emetic. Chandler, R. Frank, Lois Freeman and Shirley N. Hooper, 1979, Herbal Remedies of the Maritime Indians, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1:49-68, page 55 |
| Betula pubescens ssp. pubescens Downy Birch USDA BEPU5 |
Chippewa Fiber, Canoe Material Bark used in boat building. The bark was stripped off at raspberry ripening time, laid away and pressed flat until the next spring. When required for manufacture, especially in boat building, it was heated over a fire to make it pliable for shaping to the purpose. Gilmore, Melvin R., 1933, Some Chippewa Uses of Plants, Ann Arbor. University of Michigan Press, page 128 |
| Betula pubescens ssp. pubescens Downy Birch USDA BEPU5 |
Cree, Hudson Bay Drug, Dermatological Aid Boiled, powdered wood applied to chafed skin. Holmes, E.M., 1884, Medicinal Plants Used by Cree Indians, Hudson's Bay Territory, The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions 15:302-304, page 303 |
| Betula pubescens ssp. pubescens Downy Birch USDA BEPU5 |
Potawatomi Drug, Adjuvant Infusion of twigs used as a seasoner for medicines. Smith, Huron H., 1933, Ethnobotany of the Forest Potawatomi Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee 7:1-230, page 43, 44 |
| Betula pumila var. glandulifera Regel Glandulose Birch USDA BEPUG |
Ojibwa Drug, Gynecological Aid Infusion of cones taken during menses and for strength after childbirth. Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 358 |
| Betula pumila var. glandulifera Regel Glandulose Birch USDA BEPUG |
Ojibwa Drug, Respiratory Aid Smoke of cones inhaled for catarrh. Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 358 |
| Betula pumila var. glandulifera Regel Glandulose Birch USDA BEPUG |
Ojibwa Fiber, Basketry Twigs of this dwarf birch used for the ribs of baskets. Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 417 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Creek Drug, Tuberculosis Remedy Bark used in medicine taken for pulmonary tuberculosis. Swanton, John R, 1928, Religious Beliefs and Medical Practices of the Creek Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #42:473-672, page 659 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Creek Drug, Tuberculosis Remedy Decoction of bark taken for pulmonary tuberculosis. Taylor, Linda Averill, 1940, Plants Used As Curatives by Certain Southeastern Tribes, Cambridge, MA. Botanical Museum of Harvard University, page 15 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Eskimo, Inuktitut Fiber, Snow Gear Wood used to make snowshoes. Wilson, Michael R., 1978, Notes on Ethnobotany in Inuktitut, The Western Canadian Journal of Anthropology 8:180-196, page 192 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Eskimo, Inuktitut Other, Containers Wood used to make containers. Wilson, Michael R., 1978, Notes on Ethnobotany in Inuktitut, The Western Canadian Journal of Anthropology 8:180-196, page 192 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Eskimo, Inuktitut Other, Fuel Bark used for tinder. Wilson, Michael R., 1978, Notes on Ethnobotany in Inuktitut, The Western Canadian Journal of Anthropology 8:180-196, page 192 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Eskimo, Inuktitut Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Bark used to make muskrat callers. Wilson, Michael R., 1978, Notes on Ethnobotany in Inuktitut, The Western Canadian Journal of Anthropology 8:180-196, page 192 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Malecite Drug, Unspecified Wood heated and used like a hot-water bottle. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1952, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Malecite Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 42:1-7, page 6 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Malecite Fiber, Brushes & Brooms Used to make brooms. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1952, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Malecite Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 42:1-7, page 6 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Malecite Fiber, Snow Gear Used to make sled and toboggan runners. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1952, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Malecite Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 42:1-7, page 6 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Malecite Food, Beverage Bark used to make tea. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1952, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Malecite Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 42:1-7, page 6 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Micmac Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Bark used to make trumpets for calling game. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1951, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Micmac Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 41:250-259, page 258 |
| Betula sp. White Birch |
Micmac Other, Lighting Bark used to make torches for night fishing. Speck, Frank G. and R.W. Dexter, 1951, Utilization of Animals and Plants by the Micmac Indians of New Brunswick, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 41:250-259, page 258 |
| Cercocarpus montanus Raf. True Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOM4 |
Jemez Dye, Red Bark, alder bark and birch bark boiled together and used as red dye to paint moccasins. Cook, Sarah Louise, 1930, The Ethnobotany of Jemez Indians., University of New Mexico, M.A. Thesis, page 20 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Apache, White Mountain Drug, Burn Dressing Wood burned, the charcoal powdered and applied to burns. Reagan, Albert B., 1929, Plants Used by the White Mountain Apache Indians of Arizona, Wisconsin Archeologist 8:143-61., page 156 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Apache, White Mountain Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Wood used to make bows. Reagan, Albert B., 1929, Plants Used by the White Mountain Apache Indians of Arizona, Wisconsin Archeologist 8:143-61., page 156 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
California Indian Other, Smoking Tools Root used to make pipe bowls. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 62 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
California Indian Other, Tools Wood used for digging sticks. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 62 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
California Indian Other, Weapon Wood used to make clubs. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 62 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Hopi Other, Ceremonial Items Wood used to make pahos (prayersticks). Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 298 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Hopi Other, Tools Wood used to make implements. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 298 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Karok Other, Tools Hard wood used to make digging sticks. Schenck, Sara M. and E. W. Gifford, 1952, Karok Ethnobotany, Anthropological Records 13(6):377-392, page 384 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Kawaiisu Drug, Cough Medicine Decoction of roots used for coughing. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 18 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Kawaiisu Drug, Internal Medicine Decoction of roots used for internal ills. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 18 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Kawaiisu Other, Smoking Tools Wood carved into a pipe head and used with a hollowed section of a honeysuckle twig as a pipe stem. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 18 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Mahuna Drug, Venereal Aid Infusion of bark and roots taken for venereal disease or gonorrhea gleet (urethral discharge). Romero, John Bruno, 1954, The Botanical Lore of the California Indians, New York. Vantage Press, Inc., page 70 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Mendocino Indian Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Wood formerly used to make arrow tips. Chestnut, V. K., 1902, Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California, Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408., page 354 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Mendocino Indian Other, Tools Wood formerly used to make tools for digging Indian potatoes and worms out of the ground. Chestnut, V. K., 1902, Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California, Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408., page 354 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Mendocino Indian Other, Weapon Large sticks used for war spears and fighting clubs. Chestnut, V. K., 1902, Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California, Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408., page 354 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Modesse Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Wood used for spear points. Merriam, C. Hart, 1966, Ethnographic Notes on California Indian Tribes, University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley, page 223 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Modesse Other, Tools Wood used for digging sticks. Merriam, C. Hart, 1966, Ethnographic Notes on California Indian Tribes, University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley, page 223 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Wintoon Other, Tools Wood used to make digging sticks. Merriam, C. Hart, 1966, Ethnographic Notes on California Indian Tribes, University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley, page 264 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Yuki Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Wood used to make bows. Curtin, L. S. M., 1957, Some Plants Used by the Yuki Indians ... II. Food Plants, The Masterkey 31:85-94, page 93 |
| Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (S. Wats.) F.L. Martin Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany USDA CEMOG |
Yuki Other, Walking Sticks Wood used to make canes. Curtin, L. S. M., 1957, Some Plants Used by the Yuki Indians ... II. Food Plants, The Masterkey 31:85-94, page 93 |
| Cornus sericea ssp. sericea Redosier Dogwood USDA COSES |
Cree, Woodlands Fiber, Basketry Stem used as a birch bark basket rim. Leighton, Anna L., 1985, Wild Plant Use by the Woods Cree (Nihithawak) of East-Central Saskatchewan, Ottawa. National Museums of Canada. Mercury Series, page 36 |
| Empetrum nigrum L. Black Crowberry USDA EMNIN |
Tanana, Upper Food, Winter Use Food Berries preserved alone or in grease and stored in a birchbark basket in an underground cache. Kari, Priscilla Russe, 1985, Upper Tanana Ethnobotany, Anchorage. Alaska Historical Commission, page 12 |
| Hedysarum alpinum L. Alpine Sweetvetch USDA HEAL |
Tanana, Upper Food, Winter Use Food Roots stored, with or without grease, in a birchbark basket in an underground cache. Kari, Priscilla Russe, 1985, Upper Tanana Ethnobotany, Anchorage. Alaska Historical Commission, page 14 |
| Philadelphus lewisii Pursh Gordon's Mockorange USDA PHLE4 |
Thompson Fiber, Basketry Sticks used as edging for birch bark baskets. 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 230 |
| Philadelphus lewisii Pursh Gordon's Mockorange USDA PHLE4 |
Thompson Fiber, Furniture Sticks used as edging for birch bark cradle hoods. 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 230 |