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BULLETIN
OF THE
PUBLIC MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE

Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1-174, plates 1-36

December 10, 1923

Ethnobotany of the Menomini
Indians
BY
Huron H. Smith

MILWAUKEE, WIS., U. S. A.
Published by Order of the Board of Trustees




SCIFNCE LIBRARY'
TO
Printed at the
ADVOCATE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Engravings by the
HAMMERSMITH-KORTMEYER COMPANY
Milwaukee, Wis.




Ethnobotany of the Menomini Indians
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword............................................... 8
Introduction............................................. 10
Menomini Vegetal Medicines............................... 14
Menomini Medicinal Plants............................ 21
Menomini Vegetal Foods..................................59
Menomini Food Plants................................ 60
Menomini Vegetal Fibers.................................. 72
Menomini Fiber Plants................................ 73
Menomini Vegetal Dyes................................... 77
Menomini Dye Plants................................. 77
Miscellaneous Uses of Plants.............................. 79
Conclusion.............................................. 82
Finding List of Plants.................................... 83
By Scientific Names.................................. 83
By English Names................................... 92




4

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

ILLUSTRATIONS
Plates

Plate           I.
II. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
III. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
IV. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
V. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
VI. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
VII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
VIII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
IX. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.

John Valentine Satterlee.
Keshena from north.
Menomini family.
Sandy forest in lake region.
Ferns in Wolf river bottoms.
Wishonakwit, medicine man.
Louise Amor, medicine woman.
Keshena Falls.
Lake La Mote.
Neopit Sawmill.
Forest nursery at Keshena.
Pagan cemetery.
Spirit Rock.
White Oak.
Sugar Maple.
Slippery Elm.
Butternut.
Choke Cherry.
Hemlock.
White Cedar.
Moccasin Hill near Neopit.
Shellbark Hickory.
Beech.
Black Ash.
Staghorn Sumac.




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

X. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XI. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XIII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XIV. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XV. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XVI.           fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XVII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XVIII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.

Lichens.
Dragon Root.
Skunk Cabbage.
Gem Puffballs.
Field Horsetail.
Mouse-ear Everlasting.
Joe-pye Weed.
Sneezeweed.
Menomini dwelling.
Blue-eyed Grass.
Dutchman's Breeches.
Basswood.
Bellwort.
Large-flowered Trillium.
Tamarack.
Stemless Ladies' Slipper.
Ladies' Sorrel.
Bloodroot.
Northern Clintonia.
Pasture Rose.
Butterfly Weed.
May Apple.
Indian Spikenard.
Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Yarrow.
Elderberry.
Hazelnut.
Maple-leaved Viburnum.
Nannyberry.
High-bush Cranberry.
Yellow Pimpernel.
Blue Vervain.
Alternate-leaved Cornel.
Virginia Peppergrass.
Boneset.
Silky Cornel.




BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

XIX.      fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XX.      fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XXI.      fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XXII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
XXIII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XXIV. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XXV.       fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.
XXVI. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
XXVII. fig. 1.
fig. 2.
XXVIII.        fig. 1.
fig. 2.
fig. 3.
fig. 4.

Blue-eyed Grass.
Wild Crane's-Bill.
Wild Bergamot.
Catnep.
Prince's Pine and Wintergreen.
Witch-hazel.
Wild Mint.
Peppermint.
New Jersey Tea.
Liverleaf.
White Pine.
White Spruce.
Lupines.
Showy Ladies' Slipper.
Prickly Gooseberry.
Prickly Ash.
Black Cherry.
Swamp Saxifrage.
Cow Parsnip.
Angelica.
Edible Valerian.
Great Mullen.
Culver's Root.
Bedstraw.
Raspberry.
Blackberry.
Menomini Squash.
Common Milkweed.
Cinnamon Fern.
Wild Rice.
Blueberries.
Blue Cohosh.
Rice gatherer's camp.
Three-leaved Hop Tree.




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

7

XXIX. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXX. fig.
fig.
XXXI. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXXII. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXXIII. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXXIV. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXXVI. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.
XXXVI. fig.
fig.
fig.
fig.

1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Threshing wild rice.
Winnowing wild rice.
Groundnut.
Beans.
Groundnut.
Juneberries.
Dandelion.
Plantain.
Arum-leaved Arrowhead.
Staghorn Sumac fruits.
Wild Onion.
Menomini Potatoes.
Yellow Ladies' Slipper.
Wild Leek.
Virginia Waterleaf.
Wild Strawberry.
Woolly Sweet Cicely.
Marsh Marigold.
Wood Betony.
Acorns.
Bittersweet.
Indian Paintbrush.
Bishop's Cap.
Slender Nettle.
Cat-tail.
Spreading Dogbane.
Spotted Touch-me-not.
Hoary Puccoon.
Indian Paintbrush.
Cynthia.




BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

FOREWORD
The writer has often been called upon, while in the Field Museum,
Chicago, as well as in the Public Museum, Milwaukee, to identify
plants or parts of plants used by various Indian tribes. Indian uses
of plants thus became interesting. The use of many plants is rapidly
being abandoned by most tribes, and knowledge of their ethnobotany
will soon be no longer even a memory.
Thus, at the suggestion of Dr. S. A. Barrett and Mr. Alanson Skinner, of the Public Museum, investigations into the uses of plants by the
Menomini Indians were undertaken. This tribe was chosen, because
a good guide and interpreter was still available, Captain John V. Satterlee, of the Indian police, and also because so much work has already
been done among these people by Dr. Barrett and Mr. Skinner, thus
making the preliminary work easier.
Four field trips, each of three weeks' duration, were made to the
Menomini reservation in Shawano county, Wisconsin. These periods
were in June, October, May and September in 1921 and 1922. Different periods were necessary because the Indian usually does not recognize the species he uses, at all seasons of the year, any more than most
white men recognize plants when they are not in bloom.
Several groups of Menomini talked over the plants obtained, thus
affording a check on the Indian name as well as its different uses.
Although it is customary for a botanist to list plants according to
the Gray or the Engler und Prantl system, it is the writer's intention
to list them (1) under their various uses and (2) under each of these
captions, alphabetically by families. Where possible, the literal translation of the Indian name is given. Thanks are due to Mr. Alanson
Skinner for correcting the phonetic spelling of Menomini names. Much
credit is also due to Captain Satterlee, the guide and interpreter, for his
untiring efforts to bring to light all of the aboriginal uses and customs
pertaining to each plant. His photograph appears as the frontispiece,
plate 1.
With this bulletin as a basis, the writer expects to investigate in
like manner, the ethnobotany of the Chippewa, Winnebago, Oneida,
Sauk and Potawatomi Indians, all of whom are now or were formerly
in Wisconsin.
Since the largest number of plants are used as medicines, we will




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

9

first treat of these, then of foods, fibers, dyes and miscellaneous plant
uses.
PHONETIC KEY
The writer lays no claim to being a linguist, but was able to pronounce the words so that Mr. Skinner could give him the correct phonetic spelling. We have used his phonetic key, taking the continental
value for letters not included. Our f and r sounds do not occur in
Menomini.

a, as in flat
a, as in raw
au, as ow in how
ai, as in aisle
1, as in bit

e, as in bet
f, as in luck
u, a whispered terminal u
x, a whispered aspirant
', glottal stop

For convenience in reference a "finding list" has been appended, in
which the scientific and English names are listed alphabetically.




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BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

INTRODUCTION
The subjects of this bulletin, the Menomini Indians, since our first
knowledge of them, have been largely dependent on plant life for food
and many other uses. Their tribal name, Menomini, was early translated by the French who found them in the heart of the wild rice district, into "folles avoines." The Menomini word for wild rice is
"Mi'nomin" and they took to themselves the name of the "wild rice
men," "Mai'nomineo in i'niwug."
The Menomini are of Algonkian stock and number at present about
1745. They live on their reservation, which comprises twelve townships in Shawano county, northeastern Wisconsin. They are typical
forest Indians, versed in woodcraft, hunting and agriculture. They
have been a peaceable and industrious people for many decades.
Doubtless many Milwaukeeans have passed through the Menomini reservation without realizing its exact location or extent. Travel
by auto takes Wisconsin highway 15 to Appleton, where highway 47
starts. Highway 47 proceeds due north 31 miles to Bonduel and joins
highway 16 to Shawano for nine miles. Thence it runs north and
west through the reservation, leaving the reservation at Phlox, some 12
miles from Antigo, the terminus of highway 47. From Shawano, the
reservation line is 5.4 miles distant, the chief town, Keshena, shown in
plate 2, fig. 1, being two miles farther. From Keshena to Neopit, the
only other large town on the reservation, it is 12.7 miles in a northwesterly direction. From Neopit to Phlox, just off the reservation, is
12.5 miles. Thus highway 47 may be followed for nearly 28 miles
through the reservation. Plate 8, fig. 4, shows Moccasin hill near Neopit, one of the typical scenes along this highway.
The reservation proper contained originally 12 townships, two of
which were ceded to the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians, leaving ten
townships, comprising 360 square miles or about 230,400 acres. It is
well wooded with a large variety of conifers and hardwoods, and is
well supplied with streams, rivers and lakes, which abound in fish.
The Wolf river, shown in plate 5, fig. 1, flows from north to south
through the eastern half of the reservation. It is a turbulent stream
with many rapids and waterfalls. In earlier Wisconsin history it was
much used, together with its tributaries, for log drives to New London
and Oshkosh. In those days, the Indians caught many large sturgeons,




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

11

as well as quantities of other fish. Nowadays, a special reservation
permit must be purchased before anyone but a Menomini may fish
there. Most of the lakes are small and are connected in a chain in
the southeastern part of the reservation. A typical one of these is Lake
Lamotte, shown in plate 5, fig. 2. Good fishing is still enjoyed in all
parts of the reservation.
The soil varies greatly. Perhaps the largest part is a sandy loam,
which is quite fertile. The sandy land is of two kinds. The low-lying
sandy soil is swampy, with lakes and their accompanying humus. Here
white spruce, larch, Norway and white pine, arbor-vitae, hemlock,
balsam, juniper, birches, alders, willows, poplars, red maple, red ash,
chokecherry and slippery elm are found. The high sandy soil is nearly
pure sand with a clay subsoil and is very low in fertility, the haunt of
the blueberry. Here jack pine, Norway and white pine, juniper, paper
birches, willows, white ash, white elm, and white and red oak are
found, most of them of scrubby growth. Such a situation is shown in
plate 3, fig. 1.
The swamps of loam and decaying vegetable humus are veritable
jungles of arbor-vitae, hemlock, white spruce, balsam, white and norway pine, with occasional hardwoods scattered therein. This type of
land is seen in plate 3, fig. 2. The upland loam may support two kinds
of forests. Where rock is close to the surface, large, nearly pure
stands of pine are encountered. In other situations, the forests may
be almost pure hardwoods, with predominating species of hard maple,
basswood, red and white oak and beech.
By act of Congress in 1908, the Menomini were enabled to build a
large sawmill. This mill, shown in plate 6, fig. 1, is of fifty million feet
annual capacity and is located at Neopit. Here one may see a modern
mill, with its large mill pond on the west branch of the Wolf river,
modern houses and stores, the Green Bay and Western Ry., a logging
railroad running out 15 miles into the timber, electric lights and a
thriving up-to-date industry. This lumbering is conducted as a school
of industry for the Menomini. About 38 per cent of the men of the
tribe find continuous employment here, while in the winter, when farm
work is impossible, a much higher proportion is employed. There is a
government school at Neopit as well as a Catholic mission.
The four western and the two northern townships of the reservation
are heavily timbered with hardwood, pine and hemlock, estimated at
two billion feet of standing timber, valued at ten million dollars. The




12

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

Neopit plant is valued at one million dollars, and it has accumulated a
tribal fund known as the four per cent fund. In its first two years of
operation, it earned half a million dollars.
The five eastern townships contain good farming land with scattered timber stands. Here some progress has been made in agriculture
and farms of from 3 to 20 acres are encountered. The government,
through its experts and the Neopit operation or demonstration farm,
is encouraging the Menomini to become self-supporting. Only a hundred members of the tribe receive aid as rationers from the government, on account of old age, disease, disability or no means of support.
The government, too, has taken up the problem of re-foresting the reservation. This past year three million white and Austrian pine seedlings were started on the Neopit operation farm. This forest nursery
is shown in plate 6, fig. 2.
In agricultural pursuits, the Menomini are far ahead of the average tribe. Their annual Indian fair is the best of Indian fairs in the
state. The writer attended the 1922 fair from September 12th to 15th,
and was surprised at the agricultural and horticultural exhibits. He
saw a larger head of cabbage than any exhibited at the Wisconsin State
Fair. Pumpkins, squashes, watermelons, muskmelons and other cucurbitaceous crops were quite in line with similar exhibits at the State
Fair. Root crops were on a similar plane. Forage crops were good,
though not so carefully trimmed and dressed as the State Fair exhibits. Several mokoks of maple sugar were exhibited and numberless
evidences of skill in baking, preserving and canning were displayed.
Indian art, both aboriginal and that of the school children, occupied a
prominent place at the fair. Farm animals were shown, demonstrating that the Menomini is not far behind his white brother in this plane
of activity.
While the Menomini are known as a progressive tribe in agriculture, there are yet a goodly number of pagans among them, who cling
to the old rites and customs of the tribe, and who are therefore well
versed in the aboriginal uses of plants for foods, textiles, medicines
and various other uses. It was largely through them that the writer
was able to conduct his investigations. The Satterlee family who gave
much of the information is seen in plate 2, fig. 2. The pagan, to the
Menomini, means any non-Catholic Indian. The pagan cemetery where
Chief Oshkosh is buried is shown in plate 6, fig. 3. He might be a
Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian or an Atheist, but would still be con



1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

13

sidered and known by the Menomini as a pagan. The white man uses
the term as meaning that the pagan Indian clings to the aboriginal
practices of medicine, which is really the great feature of their religion.
The pagan Menomini is a much more interesting man than his
Catholic brother, and in his own way, more deeply religious and careful of sacred things. The outstanding advisors or councilors of the
tribe are fine old pagan Menomini, such as Wishonakwit and Louise
Amor, seen in plate 4, figs. 1 and 2. There is a dignity and sense of
worth radiated by these fine old Menomini that surpasses anything
shown by their Christian brothers. A pagan Menomini observes his
ritual and gives his attention to sacred things in a far larger measure
than many of our denominational ministers, yes, and prays more, too.
The Christian members of the tribe might be characterized as the
"drifters," those not firmly grounded in their own religion, hence apt
to attach themselves to other faiths.
Because of the sanctity of most of their medicinal knowledge, it is
difficult to obtain full information on the uses of plants as medicines.
The first trip one makes to the reservation will result in the gathering
of a host of medicinal plants, and a feeling that now he has something
of value to give to the scientific world. The second trip will discover
that there is much more than he supposed on the first trip, while remaining trips will finally convince him that no white man will ever get
all of the data, names and uses of plants from the Menomini. In fact,
such data could not be had from any one Menomini. To complete the
list, one would need the co-operation of every old pagan man and
woman on the reservation, for they all have different things handed
down to them by word of mouth from their parents. Since many of
their uses of the various plants are revealed to the medicine men in their
dreams, which form the diagnostic part of the treatment, it is quite
evident that there are remedies known only to particular medicine men
and not to any of the rest of the tribe.
Just because certain plants collected have been given no Indian
names or uses, does not necessarily mean that they are not used by the
Menomini and have no Indian names. In fact, the writer discovered
on subsequent trips, that many unassigned plants were later identified
by certain other Menomini as powerful medicines.
In compiling this bulletin, the writer has decided that plants not
known to be used by the Menomini should be included in the various
lists, so that future investigators may discover and record names and




14

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

uses of such plants. In listing the different plants, the English common name will be followed by the latin binomial according to Gray's
manual of botany, then the Menomini name and its literal translation,
if this be known. Following these will be the uses, supposed properties, its value as an official or eclectic drug by the white man, and any
known myths connected with it.
The same procedure will be followed in the other subheads under
investigation, viz.: foods, fibers, dyes, and miscellaneous uses.
MENOMINI VEGETAL MEDICINES
The history of medicines in Menomini lore is inextricably bound up
with their religion. Very long and detailed stories were related to the
writer by his guide and interpreter, Uncle John Satterlee, who is
pleased to call the writer his nephew. Most of these stories have been
printed in other publications by Dr. S. A. Barrett' and Mr. Alanson
Skinner.2 However, a brief review of the salient points of the origin
of their medicines as related to the writer, is necessary to an understanding of the connection between their medicines and their religion.
Mii'tc hiiwii'tfik, the creator of all and ruler over all, counseled with
the other gods and supernatural spirits over the different spheres
of the world concerning Mii"nipus, the culture hero of the Menomini
and other tribes. When Mii"nipus became of age he was given the protection and guardianship of the earth. But Mii"nipus was uninstructed
in his duties and powers, so Mii'tc hiwi'tfik and the other gods undertook to instruct him. Accordingly, Wolf was sent to his lodge as his
younger brother. Mii"nipus welcomed him and on the morrow Wolf
hunted and brought home a deer to eat. The following day he did likewise, greatly pleasing Mii"nipus. That night Mii"nipus boasted to
Wolf, saying that there were no other gods on that island3 (the earth),
1The Dream Dance of the Chippewa and Menominee Indians of Northern
Wisconsin; Bull., Public Mus., Milwaukee, Vol. I, Art. IV, 1911.
2Medicine Ceremony of the Menomini, Iowa, and Wahpeton Dakota, with
notes on the Ceremony among the Ponca, Bungi, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi. Ind.
Notes and Mono., Mus. Amer. Ind., Heye Foundation, Vol. IV, 1920, and Material
Culture of the Menomini, Ind. Notes and Mono., Mus. Amer. Ind., Heye Foundation, 1921.
'The Menomini conceives our universe as comprising an island floating in
an illimitable ocean, separating the two halves of the universe into an upper
and lower portion, presided over by the good and evil spirits, respectively. Each
portion is divided into four superimposed tiers, inhabited by supernatural
spirits, whose power increases as their distance from the earth increases. In
the highest tier above lives the supreme spirit. Early writers agreed that this
was the Sun, but through missionary influence he is now personified as the
Great Spirit (Matc hawii'tuk). Beneath the Great Spirit are three tiers of
bird-like deities. First, in the sky, come the Thunderbirds, gods of war. Associated with these is the Morning Star. Next comes the realm of the Golden




1923]

SMITH, ETIlNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

15

only the two of them. At this time, all the other spirits were not even
hidden under the earth and they overheard Mai"nipus. They reported
to their chief who lay beneath them, and the lowermost tier of gods, the
White Bear gods, said to the spirits above them to do whatever they
desired, being assured of their assistance.
At a council of the various spirits it was decided to kill Wolf.
Mii"nfipus in his sleep overheard their decision and warned Wolf to be
very careful. He was never to undertake to cross the "sea," or walk
over it on the ice, and he must come home before the setting of the
sun. The fastest runner of the underworld spirits was selected and
instructed to make tracks to toll Wolf to follow him, and to show himself occasionally to lead and lure Wolf on. Wolf fell into the scheme
by chasing him until sunset. Then he thought to run home as fast
as he could, but could only see sky and ice in every direction. Knowing his brother's lodge was directly opposite, he decided to run across
the ice, contrary to instructions. When he reached the center the ice
broke and he was compelled to jump from cake to cake, which grew
continually smaller. Then he called out to Mii"niipus to save him, but
before Mi"naipus could reach him, he had sunk. The following (lay
Mii"nlipus searched all the mountains and caves, but to no avail. His
grief at the loss of his little brother was so cataclysmal that it shook
the earth and frightened the guilty spirits below.
The spirits of the first tier above besought the advice of Mi'tchiiwi'tfik and on consultation with the guilty spirits, he advised them to make
or War Eagles, and the White Swan, and last, in the tier that touches the
earth, birds of all species, headed by the Bald Eagles and various hawks, kites
and swallows. All of these birds, regardless of the stratum, are servants and
messengerj of the Great Spirit.
Excepl, for the Sun and the Morning Star, little attention is paid to the
heavenly bodies. The Moon is regarded as possessed of power, but is not important. There are also certain minor sacred personages who dwell in the
sky country, among whom are several sisters who preside over the destinies
of women, and to whom various colors are appropriate. Their place in the
heavenly strata is not fixed. Beneath the earth, in the lowest tier, dwells the
Great White Bear with a long copper tail, who in addition to being the chief
patron of all earthly bears and the traditional ancestor of the Menomini, is
the principal power for evil. He has for a servant a mythical hairless bear.
Next, in ascending order, is the great Underground Panther, who figures extensively in the demonology of the Central Algonkian and Southern Siouan
tribes. He is represented on earth by the panther and the lynx. Next is the
White Deer, prominent in the origin myth of the Medicine Dance. Last of all,
close to the earth, and often visible to the inhabitants, is the Horned Hairy
Serpent, so generally found in North American mythology.
The earth itself is peopled by a myriad of fantastic hobgoblins. Cannibal
giants dwell in the icy region of the north; a malevolent living skeleton, with
death-dealing eyes, haunts the forest after nightfall. Similar to him, but less
terrible, is a mysterious person bearing a sacred bundle upon his back, doomed
to travel endlessly for some forgotten sin. He wrestles with the Indians from
time to time, and if overcome grants long life to the victor, if he wins then the
vanquished will die soon. Rocks, ponds and hills have their fancied denizens.
All species of animals are ruled by the supernatural chiefs, most dwelling
underground. In swamp-holes, lakes and rivers, under waterfalls and in
lonely hills may be found stray horned snakes, bears, panthers, and in modern
times, dogs, hogs and horses. See footnote two, second reference, pp. 29-32.




16

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4.

Mi"nipus forget his loss by giving him the Miti'win (Medicine Lodge
Ceremony) and presenting him with some of their medicines and powers. Accordingly a long medicine lodge was erected and fashioned
in the approved manner, between the earth and the highest tier of
Heaven. Duck Hawk was sent to bid Mi"nipus to attend but was
refused because he belonged to the spirits above. So Otter, Migik, the
white one, chief of the Otters, was sent and Mi"nipus came to the
lodge.
There he was initiated into the secrets of the medicine lodge, which
is in many ways similar to Masonry, swallowed the sacred bead
(me'gisi) and was given his own medicine bag, thus becoming a
"miti'o" or member of the medicine lodge. In the medicine bag were
all of the medicines, the uses of which were taught him, so that he in
turn might teach his uncles and aunts (the Indians) how to use them
and the purpose of each. He was given power over all the earth,
excepting the evil spirits, which the gods informed him could not be
destroyed, as they moved too swiftly. This Mii"nipus found to be the
truth.
The great spirits further aided and told Mai"nipus that tobacco
must be offered to them through MaI"nipus, before the prayers of the
Indians would be answered. They told him of the different types of
medicine bags and their powers. Some of the medicines which Ma"naipus was to give were to be found in certain parts of animals, like the
beaver, etc., and some were to be given from his own body.
Then Mi"napus descended to the world from the medicine lodge and
called Grandmother Nokomai (the earth) to his side. He,,. d her examine the medicine bag and all the roots and medicines. Then he gave
them to her to keep in charge. That is, she should allow them to grow
in her body or bosom, and add her power to them. To this she agreed.
After testing the gifts from the great spirits Mi"nipus told Grandmother Earth that, he would teach his uncles and aunts how to use
them, in the coming spring. So when spring arrived, Mi"napus looked
and saw all the medicines beginning to grow out of the Grandmother
Earth, who had been asleep all winter. This meant that she also was
ready.
Mii"nipus decided to appear personally to the Menomini and show
them the ceremony first of all of all the tribes of Indians. So he went
to a ridge running into the Menominee river (on the border of Wiscon



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sin and Michigan)4, appearing to an old man. After he had convinced
the old uncle that he was Mii"nipus he instructed him to build the
proper type of medicine lodge and have it ready in four days. Four
is the sacred number of the Menomini. This the uncle communicated
to his people, who erected the lodge in one day.
True enough, Mii"nSipus appeared on the fourth day and, after sending the younger members of the tribe back, initiated the elders into
the "MitSi'win" or medicine lodge, demonstrating the uses of all plants
and medicines and telling them the proper ceremonial form for addressing each medicine and for collecting it. It took four days to thus
instruct them. The Menomini nowadays shorten the ceremony to two
days, but say that the Potawatomi still adhere to the four-day ceremony.
Since they have been taught that these medicines are very valuable,
and that it would offend the various spirits to value them lightly,
they guard the lore very jealously. Each remedy is highly prized and,
though it may be for some trifling ailment, the patient must pay well
for the information. Even when death is imminent, a person must
pay an exorbitant price to the owner, although the patient may be a
close friend or even a relative. This explains the often outlandish
value that is placed upon some simple formula. For only the song,
which accompanies the digging of one of the simplest remedies, an
old medicine man, Wishonakwit, whose picture is shown in plate 4,
fig. 1, demanded two ponies and a rig. Yet not all of those who believe in the medicines are so grasping, for one of the Menomini, as a
special favor, offered to sell the writer, for two dollars, the knowledge
of the roots that go together to effect the cure of gonorrhoea. He was
quite put out when assured that the writer never had use for such a
remedy, and suggested in that case that it would be a fine thing for
his friends.
There is a proper season for obtaining all medicines. It may, in
some instances, be of only two or three days' duration. This the Indian
knows and if he wants to save the remedy at the right time, nothing
will distract his attention from that work. A few years ago, a group
of the Menomini were brought to the Wisconsin State Fair at West
Allis, to exhibit Indian handicraft and native dress. One of their number discovered some prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) near
4The traditional home of the Menomini was located on the upper Michigan
peninsula. In their early contact with the whites and up to the time they
moved on to their present reservation, their territory extended down to the
vicinity of the city of Green Bay on the mainland.




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the fair grounds, and the whole band immediately settled to the task
of gathering the bark for medicine, much to the consternation of the
fair authorities. When they remonstrated, the Indians told them that
it was the right time to gather this, and here it was, so what else could
they do? An Indian can be as dense as a Chinaman, when he wants
to be. From such observations as the writer could make, it appears
that the proper time for gathering Menomini medicines coincides
closely with the proper time of the white man for gathering native
drugs. There are times when the drug properties are inert, and times
when the medicinal ingredients are at their best, as, for instance, just
before the plant blooms, or when the sap is first moving and the inner
cambium layer of the tree is active in new growth. The Indian has
learned to recognize these periods in his own way and proceeds accordingly. It may be surprising to the reader to also know that the Menomini have Indian names for certain species that have only been recently discovered as valid species by the white man. Scientists who
have worked on monographs of certain groups are now and then discovering specific differences that would subdivide a parent species,
such as Amelanchier canadensis. The Menomini has from time immemorial given this new species of the white man a different Indian
name from the parent A. canadensis, indicating that he recognized the
differences in the tree long before we did.
Undoubtedly many of their remedies are mythical insofar as any
medicinal value is concerned, but they are not the only folk who "kid"
themselves back to health. And, again, there are remedies of medicinal
value which the white man has acquired from his Indian brother.
To acquire a complete list of all their medicines would require
several years of intimate life with the Indians throughout the entire
growing season, but we believe that this study in the past year has discovered a goodly percentage of at least the commoner medicines now
in use among the pagans of the Menomini.
The procedure is much the same for all medicines. The diagnosis
of the ailment is the first step. The medicine man or woman comes
to see the patient and finds out where the pain is located, and how it
was brought about. Then he goes home and at night he dreams about
'the case. A spirit tells him what is the matter, how it may be cured,
and what herbs are needed. Oftentimes the medicine man, or even
one uninitiated in medicine practices, will visit a spirit rock and leave




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his votive offering of tobacco on the rock with the prayer for light on
some disease. Such a spirit stone is seen in plate 6, fig. 4.
After the diagnostic dream, the medicine man or woman goes to
gather the herbs. When he finds the proper plant he starts to chant a
song, telling Grandmother Earth why he has chosen this root or herb
and how he intends to use it, at the same time asking that she lend her
power to the medicine that it may heal. It is necessary to tell this to
Grandmother Earth so that she may understand and not be displeased.
My informant gave me a specimen song, which translated means, "I
am inserting my hand into your bosom, Grandmother Earth, to get
this root." This is repeated four times, then the name of the medicine
is spoken and Grandmother Earth is told what it is wanted for, that
she may approve and lend her power to the herb. The Menomini words
are "Nokomi nesase' konau" chanted four times, then followed by the
interjections: "he, he, he, he," then the name of the medicine like
"Wapinakakwoset," the hop wafer ash, and then the disease it is to
heal. Then he plucks or digs the plant from Grandmother Earth's
bosom or pulls the hairs from her head as some have it. In the cavity,
he places as a gift to Grandmother Earth a little portion of tobacco.
When he has brought the ingredients together, he takes or sends
them to the patient with proper directions for their use. In four days
the patient should be well. If he is not, then the medicine man will
have to try some more powerful medicine, or perhaps he will give
instructions to continue this same medicine for a week or a month.
When applying the remedy the same song for the herbs must be sung
and the patient makes a gift when he is cured. This gift is whatever
the treatment is worth in the mind of the medicine man, who is blessed
with a vivid imagination and is not at all bashful. It is usually a
quantity of cloth, tobacco, blankets, grain, hay, cooking utensils, or a
cow or a horse. The medicine man or woman then tells the patient
what it was that cured him, how it was combined, and what song to
sing while gathering it.
There are also songs for the medicines when they are put into the
war-bundles. Such a one was given as a sample in Satterlee's orthography. Verse: "Ah nomahwah yat katinnay ah wahtakutton," meaning, "those things we use are surely of God's power." Verse: "Ta ta
kasamakutton anay koio ia," meaning, "powerful are the things we
use. Verse: "Ah wah tok os kayes atah tata kasamakutton," meaning,
"God said to us they shall be powerful."




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Most Menomini remedies are combinations, because they feel that
one herb represents one man and one man has only one unit of strength.
Then more herbs represent more strength and the medicine becomes
more powerful with the increase in numbers. All are not of the same
rank, some being more powerful than others of like kind. For instance, there are said to be twenty kinds of Colorado root, the most
powerful being miini'k (Ligusticum filicinumn Wats.) which grows in
the mountains of Colorado. The Menomini have a native younger
brother and call it minik'o'sa or little Colorado root (Taenidia
integerrima).
The government takes cognizance of the Indian medicine man and
is trying to wean the Indians away from his dominance. This succeeds only in the degree of confidence which the Indian places in the
white doctor. The Menomini have, as their Reservation physician, Dr.
Lawrence White, a man whom all love and appreciate, and he has
been unusually successful in winning their confidence. Yet even some
of the Christians, failing to get relief from the white doctor, will steal
away to the medicine man or woman, sing the old pagan songs, dig the
Indian remedies, and offer tobacco in the old pagan way.
For example, a man at Neopit had a cancer on the cheek, and came
to see the agency doctor, who told him it could not be cured except
surgically. His Indian wife gathered some pisewa'xtik (Cornus alternifolia) and by poultices of the inner bark, in some manner cured the
cancer. Dr. White said this was a wonderful cure, and told the man
that he would become famous if he would tell the remedy, so that
others might be cured. But this is not the Menomini way and his
secret cure will die with him.
Last summer, the writer was importuned by a Menomini to photograph his wife and himself. The reason the photograph was wanted,
was because his wife had received a miraculous cure from the Indian
doctor. He said that she had been dead six hours and fifteen minutes.
Her heart did not beat nor did she breathe. The Indian doctor had
brought her back to life, and he thought he would like to have her
photograph for this reason.
So we see that superstition is not all dead among the Menomini
and that many of their number still believe in their aboriginal remedies.
These remedies follow alphabetically under their proper family names,
except that cryptogams are placed before phanerogams.




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MENOMINI MEDICINAL PLANTS
CRYPTOGAMS
LICHENS
Tree Lichen (Sticta glomulerifera) "wakfn" [plural wakfinfk].
Shown in plate 10, fig. 1. This is a plate-like lichen growing on many
different kinds of trees on the reservation, but is gathered only from
hard maple or hemlock trees. It is in a sense a food, and yet a food
eaten as a medicine to act as an alterative in run-down systems. It is
gathered at any season of the year and put away dried. When wanted
for use it is put into soups, where it swells somewhat like Irish moss,
and is eaten with a relish. There is probably no more nourishment in
it than in the general run of fleshy fungi, or about five per cent of food
value, but it is highly esteemed by the Menomini for its tonic effect on
the system and the blood.
CHARACEAE
Chara (Chara fragilis or vulgaris). Indian name unknown. This
flourishes on the floor of several lakes, and was thought to be of some
use in kidney troubles, but its exact name or use was unknown to my
guide.
FUNGI
Gem Puffballs (Lycoperdon pyriforme Schaeff.), "iniki'wi opa'skfik."  Shown in plate 10, fig. 4. These small puffballs were an
aboriginal remedy of the Indian mother to cure chafing under the armpits and between the legs of the Indian baby. It might well be called
the "Indian baby talcum," as it was eminently the proper shade to use.
One Indian said that it had been used in the past by another to blind
his enemy, inducing permanent blindness. It has been used in our
pharmacopoeias under the name of Lycoperdon spores as a hemostatic
and surgical dusting powder.
MARCHANTIALES
Marchantia or Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha L.). This
plant had no Indian name and no use was known to my informant, who
thought likely some Indian might use it for liver complaints.




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PHANEROGAMS
ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.), "Kaka'ki minfika,"-the tree.
Shown in plate 9, fig. 4. "Kaka'ki minfika utcipa," the root bark.
"Kaka'ki minuka wona'u,"-the top of the tree. "Kaka'ki menin,"the fruit. Shown in plate 31, fig. 4. "Kaka'ki menfika fismene'wit,"the seeds. This tree is a very valuable one to the Indians, yielding three
distinct kinds of medicines. The root bark, divested of the outer skin
and inner wood, yields a tea which is a remedy for "inward" troubles.
It is of course very meagre in quantity compared to the amount of root
peeled. The inner bark of the trunk is considered a valuable pile remedy and is spoken of as being "puckering" or astringent. The "top," or
twigs, of the smaller shrubs is hairy, and because of this is used in the
treatment of various female diseases. The acid flavored berries are
used in combination with other herbs like the Greater St. John's Wort
for consumption and pulmonary troubles.
AQUIFOLIACEAE (HOLLY FAMILY)
Winterberry (Nemopanthus mucronata (L.) Trel.). Indian name
unknown. So far as my informant knew these berries were considered
poisonous to human beings, though he said that bears eat them. He
thought if they were used by the Menomini, it was for some evil purpose.
ARACEAE (ARUM FAMILY)
Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus L.), "Apaxkiu utcipa," "We'ke," and
"Wia'biskitcipa kakasapo'tcikun." The root of this plant is used to. cure cramps in the stomach. It is considered a very powerful remedy
and is used only in very minute quantities. The measure of a dose is
the length of a finger joint. It is also called "Enausa'pokotcikun"
meaning "a simple penetrator." It is a good physic for the whole system, clearing the bile and all, but if too much is taken, the Menomini
say that it will kill the patient. The blade of the plant was also used
in constructing the wigwam. Calamus is official in most pharmacopoeias. It is not largely used in medicine now, but may be given as a
mild aromatic stimulant and tonic. It was formerly used by the white




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man, in the treatment of flatulent colic and atonic dyspepsia, and was
supposed to be beneficial in typhoid as a stimulant. Any amount of the
dried root may be chewed to relieve dyspepsia.
Dragon Root (Arisaemna dracontiumn (L.) Schott.), "miniuv oset"
[owl's foot]. Shown in plate 10, fig. 2. Not much was known to my
guide about this medicine, except that it was used in the treatment of
female disorders.
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllumn (L.) Schott.), "iawia'se
oske'sik" [the bear's eye]. Shown in plate 15, fig. 4. The fiery root
of this plant is pounded up and used as a poultice for sore eyes. The
writer did not possess the nerve to try this remedy over the eye, knowing that the fiery prickles when the root is taken into the mouth are
due to the mechanical punctures of the very pungent calcium oxylate
crystals. He was unable to discover how such a poultice felt, as the
informant had never tried it on himself. Small doses of the partially
dried drug are used by the white man to treat chronic bronchitis,
asthma, flatulent colic and rheumatism. Juice of the fresh corm in lard
has been applied as a local treatment for ringworm.
Skunk Cabbage (Spatheyma foetida (L.) Nutt.), "sika'k utci'pa"
[skunk root]. Shown in plate 10, fig. 3. This is a root that the bear
likes to dig and eat. It is employed as a poultice. The root is first
dried, then powdered and then sprayed over the surface of the wound.
It is also used as a seasoner with other medicines. Skunk root is also
known to the Menomini under the name "maitc otcipa" and according
to Naxpon Perrote, the proper name is "mitc pise'wfls otic'pa." They
give the use as a remedy for cramps. The roothairs alone are used for
stopping hemorrhages.
Skunk root is one of the ingredients of the tattooing set. Tattooing
was not employed by the Menomini so much for the design as for the
treatment of diseases, being a talisman against their return. The medicines were tattooed in over the seat of the pain. Not all of the herbs
used were identified, for the writer did not see them growing. Among
them were powdered birchbark, charcoal pigment, skunk root, deer's
ear root (Menyanthes trifoliata L.), red top root (Lobelia cardinalis
L.?), black root (unknown), and yellow root, probably Oxalis acetosella L. The medicines were moistened and tattooed into the flesh with
the teeth of the gar pike, dipped in the medicines. The various colors
stay and form a guard against the disease. After the tattooing is done,
the surface is poulticed with and painted with the medicines.




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Under the drug name of Dracontium, the white man has employed
skunk root as a medicine, as a stimulant, sialagogue, emetic, antispasmodic and narcotic. When taken in large amounts, it causes nausea
and vomiting, headache and vertigo. It is probably of little value and
rarely employed by the white man.
ARALIACEAE (GINSENG FAMILY)
Indian Spikenard (A/lralia racemosa  L.), "kwuti'tcia  kopfn"
[crane-root, and like a potato]. Shown in plate 15, fig. 3. The root of
this species is used in cases of blood poisoning and as a poultice for
sores. A drink is also said to be made from the root which is said to
be good for the stomachache.
Wild Spikenard (ziralia nudicaulis L.). Not used.
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.), "Miitcxe'tasa" [little Indian5].
A specimen was given the writer by Joe Pekore. It was the especial
medicine of his wife, Sophie, who had dug it in the woods and transplanted it under a lattice shelter in their yard. Information of its exact
use was unobtainable, but it was supposed to act as a tonic and a
strengthener of mental powers. While the medicinal value of ginseng
is almost nothing, the white man grows it in large quantities and the
Menomini seek it as a native drug very assiduously, because of the large
price it brings on the market. It is only a mild stomachic with us, but
in China it is their great medicine and is used as a panacea, particularly
for dyspepsia, vomiting, nervous disorders and sexual impotence. The
value to the Chinese is based upon fanciful considerations, of form and
wrinkles, and a single root may be worth as much to them as the entire
remainder of the bale.
Dwarf Ginseng (Panax triflorum L.). The use of this as a medicine was not known to my informant, who thought it may have been an
aboriginal food.
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE (BIRTHWORT FAMILY)
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense L.), "nami'pin" [beaver potato].
The fresh or dried root of wild ginger is used by the Menomini as a
mild stomachic. When the patient is weak or has a weak stomach, and
it might be fatal to eat something he craves, then he must eat a part of
this root. Whatever he wants then may be eaten with impunity. Under
'The informant insisted that the term mitc should be here translated as
little. In all other cases, however, it signifies big or great.




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25

the name of Canada snakeroot, the white man considers this to be a
feeble remedy possessing tonic, aromatic and slight diuretic properties.
It is sometimes given with other tonics in convalescence from acute
febrile ir fections.
ASCLEPIADACEAE (MILKWEED FAMILY)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa L.), "kinokwe waxtsetau"
[lying Indian or deceiver, and man-in-the-ground]. Shown in plate 15,
fig. 1. This is one of the most important Menomini medicines. The
root is pulverized and used for cuts, wounds and bruises. It is also
used in mixing with other roots for other remedies. One of the most
important of these compounds consists of this root, ginseng, man-inthe-ground (Echinocystis lobata), and sweet flag. This is considered
by the Menomini to represent four Indians in power. The "deceiver"
is half boiled, then pounded to strings, to get out the substance, in this
case. When a Menomini cuts his foot with an axe, this is the first
remedy that comes to his mind. Under the name of pleurisy root, the
white man uses a fluid extract as a diuretic and carminative, and in
large doses as a cathartic and emetic. Because of its diaphoretic qualities, it has been used in the start of acute diseases like pleurisy and
pneumonia. As an expectorant, it has been recommended in many pulmonary and bronchial affections.
BERBERIDACEAE (BARBERRY FAMILY)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllumn thalictroides L.), "winupauwa'tcikfin" [check flow or to stop a flowing]. Shown in plate 28, fig. 2. The
root of this plant is boiled to obtain a tea which is drunk for the suppression of profuse menstruation. It is accounted a very valuable female remedy. Physicians among the white men very rarely employ
this medicine. Eclectics have used it in the treatment of hysteria and
uterine diseases, corresponding to the use made of it by the Menomini.
Eclectics claim that it will prevent abortion, causing uterine contractions when uterine inertia is present.
Mandrake (Podophyllum peltatumn L.), "miskiiti'min utci'pa."
Shown in plate 15, fig. 2. This is not a medicine for the Menomini,
but his substitute for paris green. The whole plant is boiled and the
resulting liquid is sprinkled on the potato plants to kill potato bugs.
The Menomini claim that it kills the eggs of the potato bugs in the




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ground, as well as the bugs. Podophyllum is official with the white
man. It is the slowest acting purge in the pharmacopoeia, requiring
ten to twenty-four hours to produce its effect. The root extract excites
the flow of the bile. Summer diarrhoea of children often responds to
this drug, where none other is of avail.
BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)
Hoary Alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.), "Wat6p" [bitter].
The bitter inner bark of this alder is used for poultices to reduce swellings. For more power from the alder, the Menomini employ the root
bark, which is termed "Wat6p titai'pi" meaning "sharp." When the
mucus is too loose in a cold, then it will be congested somewhat by
drinking an infusion of the root bark. This infusion may also be used
as a wash for sores, being astringent and healing. The Menomini use
it as a wash to cure saddle gall in horses. The leaves and bark of all
alders possess astringent properties, which the white man has held valuable in the treatment of diarrhoea and haematuria. The liquid has been
used as a mouth wash or gargle in the treatment of stomatitis and
pharyngitis. When injected into the vagina, it is said to cure leucorrhoea.
Smooth Alder (Alnus rugosa (DuRoi) Spreng.), "Wat6p" [bitter]. The inner bark is made into an infusion which is used as an
alterative.
Dwarf Birch (Betula pumila glandulifera Regel.). No medicinal
use known to the Menomini.
Blue Beech  (Carpinus caroliniana Walt.). No medicinal use
known to the Menomini. The bark of the blue beech is known by the
white man to yield a yellow dyestuff, and it may have been so known
to the Menomini in aboriginal times. The bark tea is said to be tonic,
astringent and antiperiodic. It has been employed by the white man
for loss of appetite, diarrhoea and intermittent fever.
Hazelnut (Corylus americana Walt.), "kipowix'si pakane'sa"
[binding little nut]. Shown in plate 16, fig. 3. The inner bark of the
hazel bush is used with other herbs as a binder to cement the virtues of
all together. Eclectics have used the prickles on the burs of the husk
as a remedy to expel worms.




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CAMPANULACEAE (BELLFLOWER FAMILY)
Bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia L.). No medicinal use known
to the Menomini.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY)
Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera Mill.), "wasau'wus kwu'kamik." The root of this plant is credited with being a cure for senility. It is also a mild diurient. In both cases a tea is brewed from the
root. Eclectics among the white men have used the fruit for its emetic
and cathartic properties. This plant is valued by them as a diuretic
and as a means to relieve itching.
Twin Flower (Linnaea borealis L. americana (Forbes), Rehder.).
The writer was informed that some of the Menomini knew the use of
this plant, but was unable to find any of them.
American Fly Honeysuckle (L o n i c e r a canadensis Marsh.),
"mitc wasau'wfio kwfl'kamik" [big yellowish liquid bush]. The bark
of this bush is used in the treatment of urinary diseases. It is used in
combination with other plants to cure gonorrhoea. All of the local
species of Lonicera have been used by the white man as medicine,
though only as non-official drugs. Many of them have more than a
local repute as emetic and cathartic drugs.
Glaucous Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica L.). No medicinal use
was assigned to this plant by the Menomini.
Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.), "papaskitci'ksi
kinax'tik." Shown in plate 16, fig. 2. Strangely enough, the Menomini
name for this shrub is the same as for the red-berried elder, but the use
is quite different. The dried flowers of the common elderberry are
made into a tea which is used as a febrifuge. Elder flowers have some
local repute as a medicine among the white men and in infusion are
employed on sores, blisters, hemorrhoids, etc. Young shoots of elderberry have been gathered for their inner bark which is diuretic and
purgative in large amounts. It has also been used in keeping away the
flies and insects which seem to find the odor highly objectionable. The
root of elder is extremely poisonous when taken internally.
Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa L.), "papaskitci'ksi kiinix'tik." It is the common supposition of the white man that the berries of
this elder are poisonous. The Menomini recognizes that it is a very




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powerful medicine and only to be used when the instructions for use
are very carefully followed, and when other remedies for the same complaint are of no avail. Four joints of the trunk are chosen, the diameter of a man's finger, say three-quarters of an inch. These sticks are
of a measured length, from the point of the ulna to the point of the
humerus. If these sticks are now peeled downward, the resulting inner
bark and rind are steeped and boiled, then thrown away. The liquid is
drunk and saves the life of one threatened with serious constipation.
This remedy is only used in extreme cases, for there are many other
remedies for constipation and this is a dangerous one unless needed,
when it becomes a drastic purgative. If these same sticks were peeled
upwards and the tea drunk, then it would have acted as a powerful
emetic. There is probably no doubt of its emetic and purgative properties, but the mechanical difference in preparation is surely pure superstition.
Maple-leaved Viburnum    (Viburnum  acerifolium  L.), "Ape'snetu milkise'sflk" [black beads hanging (on the tree)]. Shown in
plate 16, fig. 4. The inner bark of this bush yields a tea which is drunk
for cramps or colic.
High-bush Cranberry  (Viburnum   opulus americanus   (Mill.)
Ait.). Shown in plate 17, fig. 2. This is the cramp bark of the pharmacist, but is not known to be used medicinally by the Menomini.
CARYOPHYLLACEAE (PINK FAMILY)
Night-flowering Catchfly  (Silene noctiflora L.).  The Indian
name for this was not obtainable, but the interpreter knew that it was
used for medicine. He did not, however, know its use or efficacy.
CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT FAMILY)
Lambs' Quarters (Chenopodium album L.). This plant might be
supposed to be medicinal since it has been used by eclectic practitioners.
It is not known to be used by the Menomini except as greens in the
spring.
COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), "Onawoni'koso"' [squirrel
tail]. Shown in plate 16, fig. 1. The Menomini name given by my informant was somewhat in question as it really belongs to another plant




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SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

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with an entirely different use. This plant is used in the treatment of
fevers, a hot tea being steeped from the leaves. The Menomini also
used the fresh tops to rub eczema sores to cure them. The leaves were
used as a poultice for the rash of children. Although this is one of the
most ancient of the white man's drugs, it is seldom employed by him
now. However, some of it is still to be found on the market. It was
employed for the aromatic and bitter principles it contained. It was
used as an emmenagogue and for the various ailments of the reproductive organs. It is sometimes used now to cure diseased conditions
of the mucous membrane of the entire gastro-intestinal tract.
Fennel (Anthemis cotula L.). This plant was not used, hence had
no Menomini name. Under the name of chamomile it has been used by
the white man for its stimulant and antispasmodic properties. It is of
use in summer diarrhoea of children and in intermittent fevers. It has
also been employed as an emmenagogue. Hot fomentations of the
flowers with water and vinegar have been used with success as stimulants to sluggish ulcers, and for the relief of deep-seated pain such as
earache and rheumatism.
Lesser Cat's Foot (Antennaria neodioica Greene). This plant
had no Menomini name nor was it used.
Biennial Wormwood (Artemisia biennis Willd.). This plant had
no Menomini name nor was it used.
Canada Wormwood (Artemisia canadensis Mx.), "Onawenxikoso"' [squirrel's tail]. This is the true herb known by this Menomini
name and is a very important leaf medicine. It is used in combination
with angelica root for suppressed menstruation. When the patient has
a cold or the menstrual flow is stopped for any reason, tea of these two
make it easy again. Artemisia has been used by the white man as a
household remedy in ailments of the digestive and genital tracts. It is
an excitant to the circulation and an irritant to the mucous membrane.
Lowrie's Aster (Aster lowzrieanus Porter). Not used.
Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthiemum   leucanthemum  L.). The Menomini name was not known to my informant, but he knew that the
plant was used by his people for fevers. This has been used by the
white man for its volatile oil. The herbage is pleasantly aromatic and
slightly bitter. It has been used as a diuretic, antispasmodic and
mucous membrane tonic. Large doses are said to have an emetic effect.
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers.). Not used by the
Menomini. Erigeron was used by the white man for a diaphoretic and




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expectorant. Its common use, in country districts, is as an intestinal
astringent in diarrhoea.
Robin's Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus Mx.). Not used.
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron ramosus (Walt.) BSP.). This plant is
used by the Menomini but the exact name and use were unknown to my
informant.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum L.). Shown in plate 18, fig. 3.
This plant is used by the Menomini to brew a tea which is used to dispel a fever. The Menomini name for this plant was not known to my
informant. He thought that its use was a later one acquired from the
white man. Eupatorium is nowhere official in white man's medicines,
but eclectics use it largely and it is a time-honored home remedy. It is
stimulant in small doses, and laxative in large ones. In warm infusions,
it is an emetic and diaphoretic. It is used for the purpose of aborting
colds, bronchitis, sore throat, and such acute inflammations.
Joe-pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum L.), "pii'sanikiki" [finehaired roots]. Shown in plate 11, fig. 3. This is one of a large group
of different plants known by the same Menomini name, but not all are
for the same use. Most of them are used in diseases of the genitourinary canal. The white man has used the roots of Joe-pye weed for
its astringent and diuretic properties.
Mouse-ear Everlasting (Gnaphalium polycephalum Mx.), "ni'sikfn" [a reviver]. Shown in plate 11, fig. 2. The leaves of this plant
furnish a very important sorcerer's medicine. It is used separately or
with "naima wi'nifin" or gall from the beaver's body, to make a smudge
as a reviver. When one has fainted this is used to bring him back to
consciousness again, the smoke being blown into his nostrils. Then
again, when one of the family has died, his spirit or ghost is supposed
to come back to trouble the living. Bad luck and nightmares will result
to the family from the troublesome ghost. This smudge discourages
and displeases the ghost which, after a fumigation of the premises with
this smudge, leaves and never returns. Burning of these herbs gives
off a peculiar characteristic odor, reminding one of the smell of elm
bark, dried medick flowers, and coltsfoot herb. Among the white men,
it has been used as a soothing expectorant, but because of its bitter
qualities it is also used for its stomachic principles.
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale L.), "aiatci'a ni'tcikfin," [sneezing spasmodically]. Shown in plate 11, fig. 4. The flower heads, when




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nearly mature, are dried and kept in a loose bunch which is hung from
the rafters of the house. When wanted for use it is pulverized and
used as a snuff up the nostrils. It makes one sneeze violently several
times, and is used to loosen up a cold in the head. It can be used alone
or mixed with other medicines. The dose is experimental, starting
small and increasing in size as needed. It is also mixed with other foliage to brew an infusion which is drunk for its alterative effects. The
white man recognizes the property of Helenium that causes sneezing,
in the volatile oil of the florets, and sometimes uses it for that purpose.
The plant is also known as a cattle poison.
Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis L.). Although no Menomini
had a name for this plant, my informant said that it is used to cure
poison ivy. The milky juice of the fresh plant is rubbed on the eruptions.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.). Not used. The leaves
of this Rudbeckia have been used by eclectics as a stimulating diuretic,
in the form of a decoction freely administered.
Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites palmatus (Ait.) Gray), "titi'pitcipa"
[puckering and drawing]. The white roots of this plant are boiled to
provide a liquid which cures the itch. Sweet Coltsfoot is not official,
but has been largely used in domestic practice by the white man. The
roots are demulcent and slightly tonic. It is used in bronchitis and pulmonary troubles. The pulverized root is smoked in Germany and
Sweden to cure a cough.
Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus L.). Not used. Senecio contains much tannin and there are records of its use as an astringent by
other peoples than the Menomini.
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago latifolia L.). Not used.
Late Goldenrod (Solidago serotina Ait.), "wasa'wa na'okfik."
This plant was used in medicine by the Menomini, but my informant
did not know how. In earlier times, under the name of Blue Mountain
tea, Solidago was given a rather important place in materia medica.
The white man used it as a mild carminative, antispasmodic and an
intestinal astringent.
CONVOLVULACEAE (MORNING GLORY FAMILY)
Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus s'epium L.). Not used. This
plant has been known to the white man as a drastic purgative.




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CORNACEAE (DOGWOOD FAMILY)
Silky Cornel (Cornus amomumn Mill.), "kinnikinik" and "mi'makwukwa." Shown in plate 18, fig. 4. Due to a confusion in the mind
of my informant, this species was shown me three times, once near the
Wolf river, where it was called "Kinnikinnik" and twice in the woods,
where it was called "Mi'makwukwa." In the first instance it was accredited with being the bark gathered as an Indian tobacco, the method
of gathering, preparing and using being described in Dr. Barrett's
treatise on the "Dream Dance." In the latter case it is considered the
source of a valuable medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea. In this
case an infusion of the bark is used in a rectal injection. The bark of
this species has been locally used by the white man for its bitter and
astringent properties. It was formerly employed as an antiperiodic,
and in large doses it is an emetic. The next species was similarly used
by the white man.
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia L. f.), "kinnikinik," muski'ki wax'tik," and "pise'waxtik."  Shown in plate 18, fig. 1.
This species was also doubtless confused in the mind of my informant.
It is true that there are several species of Cornus on the reservation,Cornus amomum, C. stolonifera, C. alternifolia, C. circinata, and C.
paniculata as shown by herbarium specimens gathered, but all of four
to which he gave Menomini names turned out to be C. alternifolia.
Doubtless it is one of the sorts used for Indian tobacco under the name
"kinnikinik."  Under the name "muski'ki wa'xtik" the bark of this
shrub is gathered to yield liquid pile remedy. The use of the various
pile remedies was interestingly given by my informant. The tepid
liquid is placed in a special rectal syringe. This is made from the
bladder of the deer or bear, into the neck of which is bound a two-inch
hollow duck bone. This is tied on with sinew. By compressing the
bladder, the liquid is forced into the rectum where it is retained for
intervals of half an hour for each application. Under the name "pise'waxtik" [lynx tree] it is used for diarrhoea. It is used in the special
rectal syringe just described. The bark is also pulverized and put
upon a bandage, where a wet application is bound against the anus.
The strength of the medicine in this case is supposed to travel upward.
This bark is the species used by a Menomini at Neopit to cure cancer. He had been told by Dr. White that his facial cancer was incurable save by surgical excision. His wife made a poultice of this bark




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with something else and cured the cancer. But the Menomini would
not divulge the exact formula or method of use of this medicine.
CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY)
Hoary Mustard (Berteroa incana (L.) DC.). This adventive
plant was not used by the Menomini, but is giving considerable trouble
as a noxious spreading weed on their school campus.
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic.), "wisakipfiko'sa" [a tiny bitter leaf]. This plant seems to hold equal favor
with the Virginia Peppergrass as a cure for poison ivy. The plant is
steeped, and the water when tepid is used as a wash. Next to mustard,
horseradish and scurvy-grass, this is the most important drug of the
family according to white man's uses, on account of a peculiar acid.
Among the eclectics it is used as a diuretic, emmenagogue, and antirheumatic, and is an excellent healing agent for unhealthy sores.
Wormseed Mustard (Erysimum cheiranthoides L.). Not used.
Small Erysimum   (Erysimum parviflorum Nutt.). Not used.
Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidiumn virginicum L.), "wisakipfiko'sa"
[a tiny bitter leaf]. Shown in plate 18, fig. 2. This was the first plant
to be pointed out to me as a cure for poison ivy. It is steeped in water
to compound a liquid wash. My informant said that the freshly bruised
plant is just as efficacious. The white man uses Lepidium infusions as
a cure for scurvy. It has also been used among eclectics as a substitute
for Capsella.
Three Sisymbriums were found, of which one was suspected of Menomini importance, the Tall Sisymbrium  (S. altissimum L.). The
others were S. officinale leiocarpum DC., and S. thalianum (L.) G.
Gay.
CUCURBITACEAE (GOURD FAMILY)
Squash (Cucurbita pepo var.). Shown in plate 26, fig. 1. The
seeds of squash and pumpkin are gathered by the Menomini and pulverized in a mortar. This powder is taken in water to facilitate the
passage of urine.
Balsam Apple (Echinocystis lobata (Mx.) T. & G.), "miitc mama'tcetau" [big Indian or Man-in-the-ground]. This root is pulverized
and used as a poultice for headache. A decoction is used as a bitter




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tonic drink, and it is also used in love potions. It is described as being
the greatest of all medicines and useful in any combination. The hard
fleshy root of Man-in-the-ground has been used by eclectic practitioners
as an active purgative.
CYPERACEAE (SEDGE FAMILY)
Out of the twenty sedges collected and investigated, but one was
used by the Menomini for medicine. Sedges collected were: Carices,Carex bromoides Schkr.; C. conoidea Schkr.; C. cristata Schwein.; C.
gracillima Schwein.; C. hystericina Muhl.; C. intumescens Rudge; C.
laxiflora Lam. leptonervia Fernald; C. lupulina Muhl.; C. pennsylvanica Lam.; C. plantaginea Lam.; C. rosea Schkr.; C. rostrata Stokes;
C. stipata Muhl.; and C. stricta Lam. Dulichiumn arundinaceum (L.)
Britton. Eleocharis palustris (L.) R. & S. Eriophorum callitrix
Chain. Eriophorum viridi-carinatumn (Engel.) Fernald. Scirpus atrovirens Muhl. Scirputs validus Vahl.
Plantain-leaved Sedge (Carex plantaginea Lam.), "kinu'bikwus"
[snake-medicine]. This seems to be considered one of the snake
charms along with blue-eyed grass. Their particular virtue seems to
be that the wearer will not be molested by rattlesnakes, and that the
house so guarded will not be troubled with snakes. Then, too, it
features in the cure of snakebite through the agency of the medicine
man. The medicine man chews the root and sprays the spittle on the
wound of the patient.
DIOSCOREACEAE (YAM FAMILY)
Wild Yam-root (Dioscorea villosa L.). This plant is probably
used by the Menomini according to my informant, though the Indian
use and name were not known to him. In Wisconsin, a tincture of the
roots has been used as an expectorant and diaphoretic, and a decoction
of the root is said to be beneficial in bilious colic.
EQUISETACEAE (HORSETAIL FAMILY)
Scouring Rush (Equisetumn hyemale L.), "kise'paskiin" [everlasting vine]. Shown in plate 11, fig. 1. The water in which these are
boiled is used to cure kidney troubles, and is drunk by the women after
childbirth, to clear up the system. Equisetumn has been used in South
America as an intestinal and urethral astringent.




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Wood Rush (Equisetum sylvaticum L.), "skako'sa hasinu'kwa"
[evergreen]. The tea from these stems is used to cure dropsy. Pulverized it is used as a poultice to stop the flow of blood.
ERICACEAE (HEATH FAMILY)
Andromeda (Andromeda glaucophylla Link.). Not used.
Bearberry (Arctostaphyllos uva-ursa (L.) Spreng.), "kiki'kipfukosa" [evergreen]. The diminutive "osa" relates this to Chimapila urnmbellata. It is used as a seasoner, to make certain female remedies taste
good. It is accounted fully as good for this purpose as Chimapila.
The dried leaves of Uva-ursa, which the Menomini use, is likewise a
valued remedy of the white man, being official in nearly all pharmacopoeias. It combines diuretic, tonic and astringent properties. It is
especially useful in urinary diseases where inflammation exists. It has
been used in chronic bronchitis, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, amenorrhoea,
and uterine hemorrhages.
Leatherleaf (Chamnaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench.). This is
not used so far as is known by the Menomini.
Prince's Pine (Chimapila umbellata (L.) Nutt.), "kikiki'pfik"
[evergreen]. Shown in plate 20, fig. 1, the smaller specimen. This is
a valuable remedy in female troubles. It is used as a seasoner to make
the medicine taste good. The constituents, properties and uses of
Chimapila are nearly identical with Uva-ursa, and it is so used by the
eclectics among the white men.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens L.), "wini'nomi'nfin" [real
or true berry]. The leaf of this plant with the berry is steeped to make
a tea, which is drunk for rheumatism. This corresponds closely with
the white man's use, since the wintergreen was at one time the source
of methyl salicylate. Approximately the same active principle is incorporated into the trade product, aspirin. This was formerly a very important medicine of the white man, but it is no longer the commercial
source of salicylic acid. Like many other volatile oils, it was used as
an antiseptic, analgesic, flavoring agent and carminative. Added to
liniments it was used in treating muscular rheumatism, sciatica, and
similar complaints. Overdoses of the pure oil on the skin produce
drowsiness, congestion and delirium.
One-flowered Wintergreen  (Moneses uniflora (L.) Gray). So
far as is known this is not used by the Menomini.




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Three species of Pyrola were also unknown to my informant so far
as Menomini medicinal use was concerned. These were Pyrola americana Sm.; P. elliptica Nutt.; and P. secunda L.
FAGACEAE (BEECH FAMILY)
Beech   (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), "sawa'mia"  [beech tree].
Shown in plate 9, fig. 2. "Siiwi'mia oni'xki," the root and bark names.
The inner bark of the trunk and of the root are both valuable to the
Menomini. They are used in several compounds, but never by themselves alone. The bark of beech is quite rich in tannin and infusions
have been used by the white man for diarrhoea.
White Oak (Quercus alba L.), "oskextimi'."  Shown in plate 7,
fig. 1. The inner bark of the white oak is also used in compounds, possibly because of its bitter tannic acid content. White oak bark is official with the white man, and has been used chiefly because of the contained tannic acid. Infusions with water have been used as vaginal
irrigants in leucorrhoea, simple or gonorrhoeal vaginitis, as astringent
rectal injections for piles, and as a gargle for chronic inflammations of
the tonsils and pharynx.
Black Oak (Quercus velutina Lam.), "anepakakwa'tik" or "anepakiikwa'tik." The bark of the black oak is crushed and boiled to
furnish a watery infusion to cure sore eyes.
GENTIANACEAE (GENTIAN FAMILY)
Spurred Gentian (Halenia deflexa (Sm.) Griseb.). Not used.
Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata L.). This was given a name,
though only one shared in common with other water plants,-"osi'shin." The Buckbean is a medicinal plant of the Menomini, though
my informant did not know its use. The white man uses it as a tonic,
purgative and emmenagogue. In large doses it acts as an emetic and
vermifuge.
GERANIACEAE (GERANIUM FAMILY)
Wild Crane's-Bill (Geranium maculatum L.), "mfltciawi'tfik sip'onikfin" [the devil's needle]. Shown in plate 19, fig. 2. This is socalled from the appearance of the fruit pods. The Menomini claim
that it has binding qualities in its roots, hence employ it in the treatment of flux and like troubles. The species, while not official, is the




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SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

37

one recommended by eclectics and used by them where an astringent is
needed. It is especially useful for infants and people who have a delicate stomach, because it is not irritating. It is valuable in serous diarrhoeas. It has also been used by the white man for injections both
rectal and vaginal to strengthen weak muscles.
GRAMINAE (GRASS FAMILY)
Three grasses were collected, none of which were known to be of
use in medicine by the Menomini. They were Glyceria canadensis
(Mx.) Trin.; Hystrix patula Moench.; and Phleum pratense L.
HALORHAGIDACEAE (WATER MILFOIL FAMILY)
Spiked Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum   spicatum  L.), "osi'shin"
[water-weed]. This is not a differentiating name and, so far as is
known, but few of this class of plants are employed by the Menomini
in medicines.
HAMAMELIDACEAE (WITCH-HAZEL FAMILY)
Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana L.), "pisewa'xtik" and "pisi'kiwfls."  Shown in plate 20, fig. 2. A decoction of witch hazel was
used by the participants in games, to rub on their legs to keep them
limbered up. The twigs of witch hazel are steeped and the decoction
is used to cure a lame back. This is the use that the Menomini have
found out from the Stockbridge Indians, their neighbors. The seeds
were also used as the sacred bead in the medicine ceremony. These
black seeds were called "me'gis&."
HYDROCHARITACEAE (FROG'S BIT FAMILY)
Water weed    (Elodea canadensis L.). Not used.
HYDROPHYLLACEAE (WATERLEAF FAMILY)
Virginia Waterleaf  (Hydrophyllum   virginianum  L.), "titi'pitci'pa" [puckering root]. Shown in plate 33, fig. 1. The root of this
plant is known as a remedy for flux, because of its astringent properties.
HYPERICACEAE (ST. JOHN'S WORT FAMILY)
Great St. John's Wort(Hypericum ascyron L.), "meti'komin ipfil'



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[Vol. 4.

kwa" [taste of the woodenberry (or acorn) ]. This is a very important
Menomini remedy. The root is used in connection with others for
weak lungs, and if taken in the first stages of consumption, it is thought
by the Menomini to be a specific. In compound with blackcap raspberry root, it is used for kidney troubles. The leaves of this species
have been formerly employed by the white man as a laxative, alterative
and vulnerary. It has also been used by him internally as an emmenagogue, diuretic and stimulating expectorant. The fresh drug is given
internally in the treatment of chronic catarrhal conditions of the
respiratory, intestinal and urinary apparatuses, thus paralleling the Menomini uses.
Dwarf St. John's Wort (Hypericum muttilum L.). Not used.
IRIDACEAE (IRIS FAMILY)
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor L.) This is not used by the Menomini.
The irisin or iridin of the eclectics among the white men is the powdered dried root, which they believe is second only to podophyllum as
an hepatic stimulant. It is used as an emetic, diuretic and cathartic.
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium albidiumn Raf.), "kinu'bikwfls"
[snake medicine]. Shown in plate 12, fig. 2. This species is not differentiated by the Menomini from the Prairie Blue-eyed Grass (S. campestre Beckm.), shown in plate 19, fig. 1, both of which are known by
the same name. It is used in the house to ward off snakes, or carried
in the pocket for the same purpose. It has another peculiar use as a
horse medicine. The roots are mixed with the oats, when fed, to make
the animal sleek and vicious. This renders the pony bite poisonous, but
it will not bite its owner. The pony will bite out a chunk of flesh and
the victim will die, unless the medicine man uses some of the same
herb on the bite to cure it.
JUGLANDACEAE (WALNUT FAMILY)
Butternut (Juglans cinerca L.) "pfika'nawe" [nut tree]. Shown
in plate 7, fig. 4. The sap of the butternut is used by the Menomini in
the same manner as maple sap, but with the difference that the syrup
and sugar from the butternut are a standard Indian physic. This use
recalls the practice of the native whites of Pickens Co., W. Va., in
1908, where butternut molasses was also used for a similar purpose.
The root bark of butternut is the drug of the white man, which is
employed as a mild cathartic and slight hepatic stimulant. The remedy




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SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

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has been recommended in the treatment of acute malarial affections,
and is said to be efficacious in chronic constipation and dysentery.
JUNCACEAE (RUSH FAMILY)
Neither of the two Junci were used for medicines by the Menomini.
They were Juncus effusus L. and Luzula saltuensis Fernald.
LABIATAE (MINT FAMILY)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.). Not used.
Cut-leaved Water Hoarhound (L y c o p ut s americanus Muhl.).
Not used.
Wild Mint (iMentha arvensis canadensis (L.) Briquet), "nimi'wfisko'sa" [little sturgeon root]. Shown in plate 20, fig. 3. This is
one of the three plants taken together to form a cure for pneumonia.
The others used with it are Nepeta cataria L. and Mentha piperita L.
The compound is drunk in the form of a tea and is also used as a poultice on the chest.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), "dakixkomik" [cold water, as
it tastes]. Shown in plate 20, fig. 4. This is one of the ingredients in
the foregoing compound and the Menomini name is ably descriptive of
its leaves. Peppermint is an official drug of the white men dependent
on its volatile oil for its carminative, stimulant and anodyne effects.
An infusion is given for the relief of nausea and flatulent colic. The
bruised fresh leaves are applied for the relief of local pains.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.), "oia'tcia naisikun" [sneezing spasmodically]. Shown in plate 19, fig. 3. This is a universal
remedy of the Menomini for catarrh. The leaves and inflorescence are
the parts employed, and are used alone or in combination with others to
form a tea. Monarda is an aromatic stimulant, diaphoretic and carminative, occasionally employed by the white man for the relief of flatulent colic, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhoea resulting from cold.
Catnep (Nepeta cataria L.), "ka'saka muski'ki" [cat medicine].
Shown in plate 19, fig. 4. This is one of the three plants used in the
cure of pneumonia, the others being wild mint and peppermint as described above. By the white man, catnep is employed in infusions of
the leaves as an emmenagogue and antispasmodic. It has been used as
a carminative in the flatulent colic of infants, and is supposed to be
useful in allaying hysteria.




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Ground Ivy (Nepeta hederacea (L.) Trevisan). Not used.
Heal-all (Prutnella vulgaris L.). Not used.
Hooded Scullcap (Scutellaria galericulata L.). Not used.
Rough Hedge Nettle (Stachys tenuifolia Willd. aspera (Mx.)
Fernald). Not used.
LEGUMINOSAE (BEAN FAMILY)
Large-flowered Tick Trefoil (Desmodium grandiflorum (Walt.)
DC.). Not used.
Creamy Vetch (Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook.). Not used.
Marsh Vetchling (Lathyrus palustris L.). Not used.
Veiny Pea (Lathyrus venosus Muhl.). Not used.
Lupine (Lupinus perennis L.), "piskigo'kasi'wflis" [horse-medicine] or literally [animal with the undivided hoof medicine]. Shown
in plate 22, fig. 1. This is used to fatten the horse and to make him
spirited and full of fire. This plant is also used by the white man for
fodder and is found to be highly nutritious and wholesome if not fed
in too large amounts, and fed before the seeds have matured. The Menomini also use the plant to control horses, the user rubbing it on his
own hands or person.
Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia L.), "kawa'xtik" or "kaiawako'sik me'tik." The bark of the trunk is used as a seasoner to give
flavor to other wild medicines. That this is a dangerous practice is
held by white physicians who cite records of poisoning by the inner
bark. It will also agglutinate and clot the blood corpuscles of certain
animals and possesses, for the human body, strong emetic and purgative properties.
American Vetch (Vicia americana Muhl.). Not used.
LENTIBULARIACEAE (BLADDERWORT FAMILY)
Common Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris L. americana Gray).
Not used.
LILIACEAE (LILY FAMILY)
Northern Clintonia (Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf.). Shown in
plate 14, fig. 3. My informant said this is the plant that the dog uses to




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poison his teeth, so that he can kill his prey. Should the dog bite a
human, then it would be necessary to take the same herb and put it on
the bite to draw out the poison.
Turk's Cap Lily (Lilium superbum L.). Not used.
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense Desf.). Not used.
Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum (Walt.) Ell.), "ni'sikfin"
[a reviver]. The root is dried and pulverized. Then it is mixed with
cedar balm (the twigs and leaves) and burned as a smudge to revive
one who has become unconscious. If they suppose the patient is about
to die, then the smoke of this smudge is blown into his nostrils to bring
him back to life. Solomon's Seal has been employed by eclectics among
the white men as a substitute for digitalis, though it is much less powerful. Since it augments the flow of urine, it was formerly used in the
treatment of dropsy. It is said to increase the appetite and digestion.
False Spikenard (Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf.), "paki'sikfin"
[a smudge]. The root of this is ground up and soaked to furnish a
liquid that is put on a hot stove. The fumes that arise are inhaled by
the person who is suffering from catarrh.
Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea L. pulverulenta (Mx.) Gray).
Not used.
Nodding Trillium (Trillium cernuum L.). Not used.
Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum (Mx.) Salisb.),
"waia'piski wasakwona'wit" [little white flower in the spring] or
"awai'se wasakwona'wit," so called because the bear, "aiwa'se," is fond
of the root. Shown in plate 13, fig. 2. This root was used to reduce
the swelling of the eye. The raw root is grated and applied as a poultice to the eye. For cramps, it is grated, steeped and drunk as a tea.
For irregularity of the menses, this root is grated and put into water to
simmer, and then drunk. There is a further use. It is drunk to remove the defilement entailed by intercourse with one during the menstrual period. Under the name birthroot, trillium was formerly used
by the white man as a parturient, a local stimulant and a stimulating
expectorant.
Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora Sm.). Shown in plate 13, fig. 1.
The Menomini name for this is unknown to my informant, who, however, knew that it was used by the Menomini to reduce swellings.




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LOBELIACEAE (LOBELIA FAMILY)
Pale Spiked Lobelia (Lobelia spicata Lam.). Not used.
LYCOPODIACEAE (CLUB MOSS FAMILY)
Ground Pine (Lycopodium complanatum L.). Not used.
Shining Club Moss (Lycopodium lucidulum Mx.). Not used. Lycopodium spores are used by the white man as a surgical and antiseptic
healing dusting powder.
MYRICACEAE (BAYBERRY FAMILY)
Sweet Fern (MLvrica asplenifolia L.), "kipahime'nfn" [a coverer
and berry J. The sweet fern is used as a seasoner as well as a potent
medicine for use in childbirth. A tea is made from it. Sweet fern and
mullen leaf together are sometimes used by Menomini medicine women
to kill some one they hate. The two leaves are pulverized and peppered
upon the medicine that they give to the sick person. Sweet fern is
also used to keep berries from spoiling. They gather leaves and line
the bottom of the pail with them, covering the berries with the same
leaf. The white man uses the sweet fern as a stimulant and astringent;
sometimes using it to relieve colic and check diarrhoea and as a fomentation in rheumatism.
NAIADACEAE (PONDWEED FAMILY)
Three Potamogetons were collected, none of which were known to
my informant other than as water-weeds, "osa'shin." They are: Potamogeton alpinus Balbis.; P. hillii Morong.; and P. natans L.
NYMPHAEACEAE (WATER LILY FAMILY)
Water Shield (Brasenia schreberi Gmel.). Not used. The rhizomes of Brasenia have been used by white men in the treatment of
phthisis, also in dysentery.
Sweet White Water Lily (Castalia odorata (Ait.) Woodville &
Wood). Not used. The roots of this species have been used by white
men in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and leucorrhoea.
Tuberous Water Lily (Castalia tuberosa (Paine) Greene). Not
used.
Yellow Water Lily (Nymphaea advena Ait.), "woka'tamo" [hay



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43

ing legs to stand]. This plant is described by the Menomini as belonging to the "Underneath Spirits" and is accounted a great medicine.
The large, fibrous, monocotyledonous, underwater stems are pulled and
the so-called root is dried and then powdered. This powder is used for
poultices to heal cuts and swellings. The Menomini say this plant
makes the fogs that hover over the lakes. The uses of the yellow water
lily among white men correspond to the uses of the sweet white water
lily.
OLEACEAE (OLIVE FAMILY)
Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.), "anepa'kiikwfitik." Shown
in plate 9, fig. 3. The inner bark of the trunk is a valuable Menomini
medicine as a seasoner for other medicines. Ancient superstition of
the white race accredited the ash with being a charm against serpents.
Scotch mothers fed infants on the sap to make the baby immune to
snakes and even in our time ash cradle rockers were supposed to shield
the baby from snakes. The wine of white ash bark is a remedy of the
white man used as a bitter tonic and astringent, and said to be valuable
as an antiperiodic. It was also formerly used in the treatment of intermittent fevers.
ONAGRACEAE (EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY)
Lesser Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea alpina L.). Not used.
Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana L.). Not used.
Great Willow Herb (Epilobium angustifolium L.). The root of
this plant is used to make a wash for swellings. The Menomini name
was not known to my informant. With the white men it is a demulcent, tonic and astringent. It has been used for its tonic effect on
mucous surfaces and its value in intestinal disorders.
Dwarf Evening Primrose (Oenothera pumila L.). Not used.
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE (ADDER'S TONGUE FAMILY)
Oblique Grape Fern (Botrichium obliquum Muhl.). Not used.
Virginia Grape Fern (Botrichium virginianum (L.) Sw.). Not
used.
ORCHIDACEAE (ORCHID FAMILY)
Arethusa (Arethusa bulbosa L.). Not used.




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Grass Pink (Calopogon pulchellus (Sw.) R. Br.). Not used.
Stemless Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium acaule Ait.). Shown in
plate 13, fig. 4. The root of this species is used in male disorders by
the Menomini, but my informant did not know the Menomini name.
Showy Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium  hirsutum  Mill.). Shown
in plate 22, fig. 2. Not used by the Menomini. This species has been
employed by the white man as an antispasmodic, and is supposed to
produce a slight stimulant effect on the nervous system. It is a feeble
remedy.
Yellow Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. pubescens (Willd.) Knight), "miniuvose't" [owl's foot]. Shown in plate
32, fig. 3. This is said to be used by the Menomini in female disorders.
It has also been found in sacred bundles where its purpose is to induce
dreams of the supernatural. The white man uses it as a gentle tonic
for the nerves, a stimulant and antispasmodic, similar to Valerian, only
less powerful.
Several Habenarias were collected, none of which were known to
my informant. They were: H. bracteata (Willd.) R. Br.; H. flava
(L.) Gray; H. hyperborea (L.) R. Br.; H. orbiculata (Pursh.) Torr.;
and H. psycodes (L.) Sw.
OSMUNDACEAE (FLOWERING FERN FAMILY)
Flowering Fern (Osmunda regalis L.), "nonakona'wis" [milk].
This plant furnishes a Menomini medicine from its roots, but my informant did not know the nature of its cures.
OXALIDACEAE (SORREL FAMILY)
Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella L.). Not used.
PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.), "wapitcika'wi" [blood
root] and "ona'mfn utci'pa" [vermillion root]. Shown in plate 14,
fig. 2. This root is often added to medicines to strengthen their effect.
Sanguinaria is a drug of the U. S. pharmacopoeia only, and is used for
many effects. In small doses it stimulates gastric secretions. It has
been used as an expectorant, a sternutatory and an emetic.




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PHRYMACEAE (LOPSEED FAMILY)
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya L.). Not used.
PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), "pikewa'xtik."  This is
the name of the balsam tree and the medicine is known as "okikaxtik."
There are two remedies from this tree. The liquid balsam which is
pressed from the trunk blisters is used for colds and pulmonary
troubles. The inner bark is also gathered, observing the same rules as
in the gathering of white pine bark, with, of course, the particular song
and a deposit of tobacco in the ground that accompanies all medicines.
It is a very valuable remedy with the Menomini. The inner bark is
steeped and the tea is drunk for pains in the chest. It is also used fresh
for poultices. It is further used as a seasoner for other medicines.
Inquiry as to whether the Menomini gathered the bark with the oil
vesicles intact and used it as the Hudson Bay Indians do under the
name of "wayakosh" for wounds, developed that they did not know this
use. Yet the same effect would probably be produced by the inner
bark used as poultices, which the Menomini did.
Tamarack (Larix larcina (DuRoi) Koch), "munipi'anawii" [it
stands in the swamp]. Shown in plate 13, fig. 3. The bark from both
the trunk and the root is described by the Menomini as being pitchy
and as equaling one man as a medicine alone, without help from any
other. It is used as a poultice when fresh and is steeped to make a
tea. This tea drives out inflammation and generates heat. The water
is also given to horses to better their condition from distemper. The
tincture or extract of the inner bark of Larix is employed by the white
men in chronic bronchitis with profuse expectoration, in chronic inflammation of the urinary passages and in certain hemorrhage affections.
White Spruce (Picea canadensis (Mill.) B. S. P.), "pikewa'xtik
kaienana'kesit" [gum tree and which goes up to a peak]. Shown in
plate 21, fig. 4. The inner bark is used to make a tea which is described
as good for inward troubles for either man or woman. The half
cooked, beaten, inner bark is used as a poultice placed on a rag and
applied to a wound, cut or swelling.
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb), "okika'xtik" [stump or stick
standing up]. Every part of this tree is used as a medicine. Even the
cone is boiled to make a sort of medicine. The uses were not divulged.




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Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.). Not used.
White Pine (Pinus strobus L.), "skako'sa wenaki'x."  Shown in
plate 21, fig. 3. The inner bark of the young tree, about two feet above
the ground, is used. The trunk must be smooth and free from cracks.
The first incision is made vertically facing the east, then the outer bark
is pealed and the inner bark removed. While this is being done, the
proper song for gathering this medicine is sung and tobacco is buried
about the roots of the sapling. This bark may be steeped to form a
drink to cure pain in the chest, or it may be pounded to shreds and
used as a poultice for wounds, sores or ulcers. It is one of the most
important Menomini medicines. White pine bark is the basis of the
white man's cough syrup, though it possesses little value as an expectorant.
Arbor-vitae (T lhuja occidentalis L.), "kesa'sata'uk" and "kesa'wuna'ukai" [cedar bark or skin]. Shown in plate 8, fig. 3. Besides
being used in the sudatory, the inner bark of the cedar is also used. It
is gathered, dried and steeped to make a tea to treat suppressed menstruation. When the patient contracts a cold and there is a cessation
of menses, then the tea is drunk to make the flow easy again. The
leaves are used in the smudge for reviving lost consciousness. The
inner bark is also a seasoner for other medicines.
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Marsh.), "misiku'kowa wuna'ukai"
[a puckering to heal skin]. Shown in plate 8, fig. 2. The inner bark
is used to make a tea to heal pains in the abdomen. One quart of tea
is drunk to cure a cold. The leaves are used in the sudatory, of which
ground hemlock is the principal medicine. Another Menomini name
for this tree is "miusaku'kowa."
PLANTAGINACEAE (PLANTAIN FAMILY)
Rugel's Plantain (Plantago rugelii Dcne.), "sii'sakip'oke'na" [a
wide leaf or a leaf that spreads]. Shown in plate 31, fig. 2. The Menomini does not distinguish between species of Plantago and P. major
is used the same as P. rugelii. The fresh leaf is heated and applied to
swellings with the top of the leaf towards the flesh. In other ailments,
the underside of the leaf may be placed next to the skin. The matter
of the proper side of the leaf to use is carefully observed by the Menomini, which is probably superstition. The writer, in trying this remedy, reduced to normal a badly swollen and probably infected hand in
one afternoon, by merely binding plantain leaves to the hand, which




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SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

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caused profuse perspiration. Plantain has been thought by the white
man to possess curative powers in many diseases, although it is really
a very feeble remedy. It is still used to some extent by eclectics in the
treatment of inflammations of the skin, malignant ulcers, intermittent
fevers, etc. The leaves are of some value in arresting hemorrhages
when applied to the bleeding surface.
POLEMONIACEAE (PHLOX FAMILY)
Downy Phlox (Phlox pilosa L.). Not used.
POLYGALACEAE (MILKWORT FAMILY)
Flowering Wintergreen (Polygala paucifolia Willd.). Not used.
Racemed Milkwort (Polygala polygamna Walt.). Not used.
POLYGONACEAE (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY)
Only one species of this family is used, so far as was known to my
informant. The Polygonums collected were: P. cilinode Mx.; P.
hydropiper L.; P. pennsylvanicum L.; P. persicaria L. and P. sagitatturn L. The Rumex species were: Rumex acetosella L. and Rumex
crispus L.
Pennsylvania Persicaria (Polygonum pennsylvanicum L.), "wesaki'pi'k."  This is a bitter leaf which is dried by the Menomini for
tea. When one has a hemorrhage of blood from the mouth, this is
drunk to stop it. Mixed with other herbs, it is drunk by women after
childbirth, and heals them internally.
POLYPODIACEAE (POLYPODY OR FERN FAMILY)
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum L.), "nonakona'wfls apesa'kwosit" [fern and black stem]. The blades, stem and root of this
fern are all used in the treatment of female maladies. In syrup or
infusion, the roots of this fern have been used by the white man in the
treatment of chronic affections of the respiratory tract. It is also said
to be of value for the relief of cough.
Ostrich Fern  (Onoclea struthiopteris (L.) Hoffman), "nonakona'wits" [fern]. The leaf of this fern is used as a poultice. The
root is steeped to make a drink to take when the urine is whitish.
Oak Fern (Phegopteris dryopteris (L.) Fee). Not used.




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Brake (Pteris aquilina L.), "nonakona'wuis" [milk or the breast of
a woman]. The root of this fern is boiled to make a drink to relieve
caked breast. A dog whisker is used to pierce a hole in the teat.
PONTEDERIACEAE (PICKEREL WEED FAMILY)
Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata L.). Not used.
PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)
So far as is known, none of the Primrose family is used for medicines among the Menomini. Species collected and inquired about were:
Lysimachia quadrifolia L.; L. terrestris (L.) BSP.; L. thyrsiflora L.;
Steiromena ciliatum  (L.) Raf.; and Trientalis americana (Pers.)
Pursh.
RANUNCULACEAE (CROWFOOT FAMILY)
Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd.). Not used. The
rhizomes and roots of baneberry resemble Cimicifuga or Black Cohosh,
in appearance, composition and properties and have been found beneficial by the white man for their effect on the circulation. It has also
been used to relieve headache due to eye-strain.
Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis L.). Not used.
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia L.). Not used. This
anemone has often been used by the white man in place of Pulsatilla in
the treatment of more diseases than any other drug listed. Internal
doses cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Virginia Anemone (Anemone virginiana L.), "wasai'imi'awcis."
The root of this is used to poultice and cure a boil.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis L.). Not used.
Gold Thread (Coptis trifolia Salisb.), "osauwaki'nim" [yellow
thread or golden thread]. The roots yield an astringent mouth wash
for sore throat of babies, and it is much used for teething babies. This
wash also cures cankers in the mouth. The white man agrees with the
use of this root, which is official for the same purposes, and this may
have been the original source of knowledge for the white man.
Liverleaf (Hepatica acutiloba DC.), "wskisi'kwa wasak'onanet"
[the flower that peeps out in the spring]. Shown in plate 21, fig. 2. It
is also called "piisa'nikiki wisakwon'awit" [fine hairs] referring to the




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rootlets, and [its flower]. The roots of this plant are used with the
roots of Maidenhair fern in various female maladies, especially to
cure leucorrhoea.
White Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis L. capillaceus DC.).
Not used.
Bristly Crowfoot (Ranunculus pennsylvanicus L. f.). Not used.
Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpumni Fisch. & Lall.).
Not used.
Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum L.). Not used.
RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus L.), "kitfi'ki ma'nitu"
[spotted and great spirit]. Shown in plate 21, fig. 1. The roots of
this shrub are used partly because they cross over each other in a
tangled manner and partly because the inner wood is red. The tea
from the roots is held as a cure-all for stomach troubles among the
Menomini.
ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana Duchesne). Not used.
None of the native Geums were known to be used. They were:
Geum canadense Jacq.; G. rivale L.; and Geum strictum Ait.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim.), "shipiawasha'wfls pfl'kamik." The bark of this shrub yields a valuable drink for
female maladies. It cleans out the system, and if the patient is barren,
the drinking of this renders them again fertile, according to the Menomini.
Two cinquefoils were collected but neither of them was used.
Potentilla canadensis L. and P. fruticosa L.
Black or Rum Cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), "iwi'skipi mina'xtik." Shown in plate 23, fig. 3. My informant took this to be choke
cherry and said that it was sometimes eaten by the Indian to make him
drunk, but that the berries were also made into a medicine. The white
man uses the bitter principle of the bark as a stomachic and bitter tonic,
useful in gastric and general debility. It has been employed as a circulatory sedative in hectic tuberculosis and in cardiac palpitation from
nervous disorders.
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana L.), "pani'xnowi mina'xtik,"
"pina'"'nawe mina'xtik" and "pi'xnana we'm ina'xtik."  Shown in plate




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8, fig. 1. Possibly the Menomini name for this tree is only one word,
but in hearing it at different times, it was thought to be slightly different. "Pinfi"nawe" is the word for "puckering" and "mina'xtik" means
"tree." The inner bark is pounded to make a poultice and Mii'niipus,
the culture hero, pointed it out as a medicine to heal a wound or gall
on man or beast. The inner bark is also dried, then steeped in water,
the tea being drunk for diarrhoea. When administered to children it
is sweetened. In aboriginal times, it was also a kind of beverage or tea
to drink with meals. The liquid made by boiling the dried berries is
also used to cure diarrhoea.
Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda Ait.). Not used.
Pasture Rose (Rosa humilis Marsh.), "sipitii'min" [to itch (like
the piles)]. Shown in plate 14, fig. 4. The Menomini believe that
eating the rose hips of this species will cause a healthy person to get an
itching like the piles. The medicinal part is the skin of the fruit. This
is eaten to cure stomach troubles.
Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter), "ona'kanawfls otci'pa"
[blackberry root]. Shown in plate 25, fig. 4. An infusion of the
steeped root is used to cure sore eyes, as an eye wash, and is also used
as a poultice. The root bark is used by the white man as a tonic and
astringent. Blackberry root is a favorite household remedy of the
white man for its tonic and astringent properties. It is useful in the
summer diarrhoea of children and adults.
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. aculeatissimus (C. A. Mey)
Regel & Tiling), "mlki'nitu onakonowi'x" [red berry] and [raspberry]. Shown in plate 25, fig. 3. The root of this species is used as a
seasoner for other medicines. The white man uses the fruit to make
a syrup, which is a refrigerant, mild laxative and dietetic.
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.). The proper name of
the Menomini for this species was not known to my informant, but he
knew the root was used with Hypericum ascyron in curing consumption, when in its first stages.
Dwarf Raspberry (Rubus triflorus Richards). Not used.
RUBIACEAE (MADDER FAMILY)
Northern Bedstraw  (Galium boreale L.). Not used. The plant
of bedstraw has been used by the white man as a diuretic and for various skin diseases.




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Fragrant Bedstraw (Galiumn triflorum Mx.), "Clivus." Shown in
plate 25, fig. 2. "Clivus" is not an Indian word, though it comes to the
Menomini from the Stockbridge who live on the adjoining reservation.
Some of the Menomini use an infusion of the herb to clear up kidney
troubles.
Bluets (Houstonia longifolia Gaertn.). Not used.
Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens L.), "wena'xnomin" [stinking
berry]. The word for stinking in Menomini may refer alike to perfumes and stenches. The leaves of this plant are steeped to make a tea
to cure insomnia. It is a minor drug of the white man, used for its
bitter, astringent properties.
RUTACEAE (RUE FAMILY)
Three-leaved Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata L.), "wapu'niaka'kwos&t" [white bark]. Shown in plate 28, fig. 4. This is a sacred medicine among the Menomini. The only specimen of it on the reservation
grows in the yard of Frank Kiikik about four miles north of Keshena.
It was brought from Kansas by Kikik's ancestors years ago, and he
says it has never fruited here, though it was in flower when seen. The
white bark of the root is the part used, and a piece about the size of the
index finger is the proper amount. For such a piece, a blanket or two,
or a pony is given. It is called a great leader among all medicines and
is accredited with all sorts of cures. It is used principally as a seasoner
and to render potent other known remedies for various ailments. The
root bark of Ptelea contains a powerful volatile oil, an acrid resin and
an alkaloid, and is the drug part that is most frequently employed by the
eclectics among the white men. It is used in various sorts of diseases.
Prickly Ash  (Zantho.xylumn americanum  Mill.), "kawaku'mia
suma'tcikfin" [prickly ash sprayer]. Shown in plate 23, fig. 2. The
bark, root bark and fruit of this tree are all medicines with the Menomini. The ripe berries thrown into hot water make a medicine which is
used in the mouth to spray on the chest and throat in bronchial diseases
or on sores. It is also used as a seasoner in mixtures. The root bark
is used in poultices. This, along with other medicines, is often put upon
swellings in a special method by the Menomini medicine man. The
teeth of the gar fish are moistened with the medicine. The medicine
man makes three striking motions with this in his hand, saying with
each motion "wehe." The fourth time, saying "we ho ho," he strikes
the swelling and makes it bleed so that the pulverized or liquid medi



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cine may enter the flesh. He strikes the swelling three or four times.
Then a poultice of the medicines is kept on for four days, when it
should be healed. The berries of the Prickly Ash are called "sesoma'tcikfin" and the liquid in which they are soaked is often drunk for
minor maladies. Prickly Ash has no proven physiological value, but
in the past has been used by the white man in many ailments. It is regarded as a pungent stimulant, sialagogue, diuretic, diaphoretic, alterative, and emmenagogue. It is a stimulant to the mucous membrane
and excites the glands of the buccal, gastric and intestinal tracts. It
is said to promote secretion of the pancreas, liver, kidneys and skin
and to augment the rate and force of the pulse.
SALICACEAE (WILLOW FAMILY)
Balm of Gilead (Populus cantdicans Ait.), "yenoseti." The resinous buds are boiled in fat to make a salve for dressing wounds and to
put up the nostrils to cure a cold in the head. The white man has found
the resin of these buds to be stimulant, tonic, diuretic, antiscorbutic and
antiseptic. It has been beneficial in certain pectoral, stomach, nephretic
and rheumatic affections.
Peach-leaved Willow (Salix amygdaloides Anders.). Not used.
Hoary Willow (Salix candida Fluegge). Not used.
Dwarf Willow (Salix humilis Marsh.), "kinosi'si kopuai'a otci'pa"
[little willow root]. It is also called "kinusishiwu'pwis tipa'sikit"
[dwarf plant of willow]. The root is used in curing spasmodic colic
and to stop dysentery and diarrhoea. The medicinal root is only taken
from the shrub that bears insect galls. Other shrubs of the same
species are not considered of value medicinally by the Menomini.
Beaked Willow (Salix rostrata Richards). This species was used
by the Menomini but my informant did not know its name or use.
SANTALACEAE (SANDALWOOD FAMILY)
Bastard Toad Flax (Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.). Not used.
SARRACENIACEAE (PITCHER PLANT FAMILY)
Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea L.), "mi'niuv makii'sin,"
[horned owl's moccasin]. This plant is used in Menomini medicine,
but data concerning its use was not available. My informant thought
that it was used by the sorcerers. The white man has ascribed to the




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plant the properties of a nervous and circulatory stimulant, mild tonic,
diuretic and laxative, but it is not of much value in medicine.
SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY)
Rough Heuchera    (Heuchera hispida Pursh), "sabokoa'wfs otci'pa" [diarrhoea root]. This Heuchera or Alum root is recognized by
the Menomini for its puckering qualities and an infusion of the root is
used to stop diarrhoea.
Swamp Saxifrage (Saxifraga pennsylvanica L.), "wapo'sota'wfk"
[rabbit's ear]. Shown in plate 23, fig. 4. This is one of the famous
remedies known as the rabbit's ear, but not the most important one,
which is Valeriana uliginosa.
SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)
Sessile Paintbrush  (Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh).  Menomini
name not learned. The flowers and leaves are macerated in grease,
such as bear oil or lard, and after the virtues are extracted, the grease
is set aside for use as a hair oil, invigorating the hair and making it
glossy.
Toad Flax (Linaria vulgaris Hill.). Not used.
Cow Wheat (Melamnpyrum lineare Lam.). Not used.
Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens L.). Not used.
Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis L.), "piskigo'kisieu mfski'ki" [horse medicine]. The root is chopped up fine and put into oats
that are fed to the pony. The Menomini claim that it will make him
fat and vicious to all but his owner.
Great Mullen (Verbascum thapsus L.), "metciowa'tfk ni'nimau"
[the devil's tobacco]. Shown in plate 24, fig. 4. The root of this plant
is used in pulmonary diseases, while the leaf is gathered and smoked
as an Indian tobacco. The writer has often seen white men gathering
the leaf of this plant to smoke for the relief of asthma and bronchitis.
The flowers are supposed to have diuretic properties and have been
used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Culver's Root (Veronica virginica L.), wi'sikau siksikin." Shown
in plate 25, fig. 1. This root is a strong physic for the Menomini. It
is likewise a reviver and when eaten it purifies the person, animal,
child, medicine, or weapon which has been defiled by the touch of a




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person who has just been bereaved by death in the family. This is only
one of many such revivers and is always found with evil medicines, so
that a sorcerer can undo his work. It is also always found in medicine
bags and war-bundles.
SOLANACEAE (POTATO FAMILY)
No medicines were found in this family, and only two species were
collected. They were Physalis heterophylla Nees and Physalis virginiana Mill.
TAXACEAE (YEW FAMILY)
American Yew or Ground Hemlock (Taxus canadensis Marsh.),
"sat6'k' pipamapihfl'sit" [palm leaf that creeps on the ground].
Branches of this, with white cedar leaves and hemlock leaves, form the
medicines of the sudatory to cure rheumatism, numbness and paralysis. Taxus is pulled in a long string from the ground, and coiled into
a circle to fit inside an iron pot. The lateral twigs are tied down to
the main circle. Hemlock and Arbor-vitae are likewise coiled. Equal
quantities of each are put into the pot with water. Then additional
sprays of each are placed on top of the pot to keep the steam and the
medicine confined. While this is boiling, four stones as big as the fist
are heating on the stove. A cabinet is made of canvas or cloth and
the naked patient is covered completely with the pot placed in front of
the knees. The four stones are then put in and the medicated steam
treats the ailment. The sudatory is called "asapaki'tci." The patient
remains in this tent until dry again, then puts on fresh clothing. The
old clothes are washed before wearing again. This is, of course, a
modern form of the sudatory. The aboriginal one consisted of a small
wigwam, with the stones heated in the open fire and the treatment in
general was probably taken with much more ceremony. Both the leaves
and fruit were formerly used by the white man in medicine, but are
little used now.
THYMELEACEAE (MEZEREUM FAMILY)
Leatherwood (Dirca palustris L.), "wetike'xkop" and "kibi'sai
kini'wfls otci'pa."  The latter name means "variegated urine."  The
roots of this shrub are steeped to make a tea, which heals kidney
troubles. It is diuretic. It has been used by the white man in chronic
skin diseases.




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UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)
Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea L.), "maitc otci'pa" [big root].
Shown in plate 24, fig. 2. This is a very important medicine to reduce
swellings. The roots are cooked and pounded to a pulp. Then some
bruised leaves of Artemisia canadensis are peppered over this pulp.
With this mass and a piece of cloth, a hot plaster is made, that the
Menomini claim is good for any pain in the chest or body. It is applied to the side of the body opposite the pain. This is done here because it is supposed to draw the pain through to the surface where it can
make its escape. Although angelica is not employed extensively by the
white man in medicine, it has been used as a stimulant and tonic, and in
a warm infusion as a diaphoretic and emetic. It has been recommended as a stimulating expectorant in chronic inflammation of the
upper air passages.
Caraway (Carumrn carui L.). An escape. Not used.
Musqash Root (Cicuta maculata L.). Not used. The Menomini
say that this root poisons the beaver.
Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC.). Not used.
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum Mx.) "piki'winfis" [very leafy
medicine]. Shown in plate 24, fig. 1. An evil medicine used by the
sorcerers. The fresh leaves and root of this plant may produce vesication, and have been used by the white man as a counterirritant. They
have also used the root with an alleged curative effect in epilepsy. In
infusion it is thought to correct dyspeptic disorders.
Osha or Colorado Root (Ligusticum filicinum Wats.), "mani'k."
This is not native to Wisconsin, still quantities are used by the Menomini, who buy it from the Shawano druggists under the name of
Colorado root. It is supposed to be the greatest of twenty "manik"
roots and good for many ailments.
Sweet Cicely (Osmorrhiza longistylis (Torr.) DC.). Not used.
Woolly Sweet Cicely (Osmorrhiza claytoni (Mx.) Clarke), "sia'wa otci'pa." This is the remedy to enable one to put on flesh. The
root has the taste of carrots and only one piece or branch must be eaten
at one time.
Black Snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica L.). This root was not
used by the Menomini, which is somewhat strange as it has been a
noted aboriginal remedy with other Indians, and possesses rather active
aromatic, bitter principles. When pressed for information, my informant thought it might be used by the sorcerers for some evil purpose.




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Clustered Snakeroot (Sanicula gregaria Bicknell). The same
comment may be made on this species as in the preceding, for it was
often used without distinguishing the difference in the species for the
same purposes.
Yellow Pimpernel (Taenidia integerrimna (L.) Drude), "maniko'sa," (little manik). Shown in plate 17, fig. 3. My informant explained that there are twenty roots of the "manik" class and that the
most powerful of all was "manik" itself, or as it might be called "mitc
mani'k," which grows in the mountains near Denver, Colorado. The
Pimpernel is the younger brother, the youngest one of the family, and
it was considered powerful in the treatment of pulmonary troubles.
The root tea is the medicine used by the Menomini. The roots are
fibrous, while the roots of "manik" are thickened and fleshy. Pimpernel is also used as a seasoner, "opa'powfin," in making various
female remedies taste good. It may be steeped alone for a while and
then the root taken out and chewed for bronchial affections. Any
phlegm that develops in chewing is spat out. The Menomini meaning
of "manik" is "bestowing favor." In Colorado, Utah and the adjacent
territory, "manik" is highly prized by the aborigines for its aromatic,
expectorant qualities. The Colorado root is also the chief of all as a
lure in hunting and trapping. It is pulverized by the Menomini and,
when steeped, the liquid is used to dip sticks for trap construction.
These traps lure the water animals and they are easily caught.
URTICACEAE (NETTLE FAMILY)
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis (L.) Gaud.). It is strange
that this is not regarded as an aboriginal medicine by the Menomini,
for it possesses peculiar diuretic properties. Notable quantities of
ammonia have been distilled from this plant.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva Mx.), "sausi'kop" and "osa'sikfip,"
shown in plate 7, fig. 3. When the inner bark is made into a tea, it is
taken as a physic. The inner bark is also used to draw pus out of a
wound. A small sliver is forced into the sore and bound up with a
poultice to reduce the swelling. After the pus has been drawn out, the
sliver is removed, taking the pus with it, and the wound heals readily.
Slippery Elm bark is a favorite remedy with the white man because of
its demulcent and healing qualities. It is used to relieve the irritation
and cough of bronchial diseases. The mucilage of the bark acts as a
soothing astringent draught in diarrhoea, dysentery, and inflammation




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of the urinary passages. In some parts of the country, slippery elm
poultices are popular in the treatment of abscesses, felons and other
local inflammations, being employed the same as among the Menomini.
VALERIANACEAE (VALERIAN FAMILY)
Edible Valerian ( Valeriana edulis Nutt.), "osakakimi'wfus," [tapeworm medicine]. Shown in plate 24, fig. 3. This root is fine for cuts
and wounds. It is ground to a pulp in a mortar and placed on a cut
to stop pain and bleeding. It draws out inflammation and is very healing. For this reason, it is much used in poulticing boils. It is also
used as a tapeworm medicine, after which it derives its Menomini
name. After the tapeworm is expelled, the worm is then washed clean,
pulverized and swallowed again, then the patient becomes fat and
healthy again.
Swamp Valerian (Valeriana uliginosa (T. & G.) Rydb.), "mfiski'kwfis," [swamp medicine]. It is also called "wapusata'wfik utci'pa,"
[rabbit's ear root], because of its rosette of long basal leaves, which
resemble a rabbit's ear in shape and its ciliate hairs. This is a very
important Menomini medicine, jealously guarded as to its identity.
Tea from its roots is drunk for cramps and for disorders of the head,
throat and lungs. Pounded to a pulp it is highly esteemed as a poultice
for cuts and wounds. If one chews it and spits the juice on the hook
and bait, it allures the fish, so that an Indian and a white man might
fish side by side, and the Indian knowing the secret would catch all
the fish, while the white man would not get a bite. If you have some
of this in your mouth while arguing, your opponent cannot win the
argument. This genus contains possibly two hundred species and the
properties of all are similar to the official drug, Valeriana officinalis L.
The medicinal virtues of Valerian are found in the volatile oil. It is a
feeble sedative to the nervous system. In large doses it causes a sense
of warmth in the stomach, a quickening of the pulse and sometimes
nausea and vomiting. Larger amounts produce purging and mental
stupor. It is used by the white man in quieting hysteria and functional
nervousness. It seems to be of value in palliating the nervous symptoms which occur at the menopause. It also benefits the delirium of
exhausting fevers. The peculiar acrid odor is only developed in the
dried root.




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VERBENACEAE (VERVAIN FAMILY)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata L.), "piisa'nikiki," [fine hair], referring to the slender roots shown in plate 17, fig. 4. The root tea is
used to clear up cloudy urine. The white man attributes properties to
it similar to Eupatorium. It was formerly used as an antiperiodic, but
now as a nauseating expectorant and diaphoretic, being emetic in large
doses. The white man uses the flowering tops, however, and not the
roots.
White Vervain (Verbena urticaefolia L.). This is not used by
the Menomini, though there are records of its aboriginal use by other
Indians as an antidote to poison ivy. A bitter glucoside has been extracted from its leaves.
VIOLACEAE (VIOLET FAMILY)
None of the violets are considered medicinal by the Menomini,
though they have been used in the past by white men and by some
tribes of Indians. The white men used the dried plant, while the Indians used the acrid roots. It was used as a blood purifier and as a
remedy in chronic affections of the lungs and in cutaneous diseases,
but is no longer employed in scientific medicine. A decoction of the
root was used in pulmonary diseases, and like ipecac in dysentery. The
Menomini species collected were: Viola adunca J. E. Smith; V.
ar enaria DC.; V. canadensis L.; V. conspersa Richards; V. cucullata
Ait.; V. pallens (Banks) Brainerd; V. pubescens Ait.; and V. scabriuscula Schwein.
VITACEAE (GRAPE FAMILY)
Virginia Creeper (Psedera quinquefolia (L.) Greene). This was
not used by the Menomini, but has been used by the white man for its
acidulous foliage. The tartaric acid and its salts in the foliage have
been used as a refrigerant and diuretic.
Frost Grape (Vitis cordifolia Mx.), "sewanu'ka," [vine tree], and
"sewa'nfin," referring to the grape. There were two versions of the
use of this fruit. The first was that the seeds were used to remove
foreign matter from the eye, as we use flax seeds for the same purpose.
The other was that the grape was crushed and the juice used to wash
out wild rice hulls from the eyes of the threshers or winnowers.




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MENOMINI VEGETAL FOODS
In the early history of the Menomini, they were known as great
hunters and as an agricultural tribe. They made good use of nearly
every native plant that was edible, except some of the mushrooms that
grew in northern Wisconsin. As previously mentioned, even the name
Menomini is derived from their native name for wild rice.
Several Menomini still gather the old time foods in the woods and
fields, and along the streams and ponds, and prize them above store
food. Many old Menomini took pride in telling about the palatable
dishes they used to make from native herbs and berries. In aboriginal
times, they say that the food of the Menomini was closer to nature,
and that their food then was the same as medicine, too, in that the
acids, salts and minerals occurring in nature were found in their food.
The old Menomini explains that, now that they have taken up the use
of white man's food, they have thus inherited the white man's diseases.
Especially in the spring, the Menomini gather native foods after
the long winter, and consider that they are taking a tonic as well as a
food. With encroaching civilization, these foods are becoming harder
to find, and are becoming of great value to the Menomini. Even wild
rice cannot be gathered in sufficient quantities to last all winter. Small
wonder, then, that they do not want to sell any to the white man, and
when they do sell get ninety cents a pound. Then, too, last year, the
game warden who patrols the reservation warned them that they could
not gather their wild rice as before, for he said it was against the law,
and that he would arrest them and throw them in jail, if they did.
Imagine a whole tribe of 1800 Indians, named after the wild rice and
forbidden to gather it on their own reservation. The truth of the
matter probably was that this game warden knew that wild ducks
would not be so plentiful if the rice was gathered, and that hunting
would not be as good. He therefore profited by their ignorance, and
played this peanut politics game to further his own ends.
The Menomini are fond of mixtures in their cooked foods, just as
they seem to prefer compounds in their medicines. Usually the dishes
are combinations such as corn with blueberries, or acorn meal with
beans, etc. However, botanically, we are interested in naming the various species utilized, in their various families, indicating as we progress
such combinations as we found. It was much easier to get discussion
on the matter of aboriginal foods than on medicines, for everyone




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seems to be fond of food and loquacious when talking about good
things to eat. Only the families in which known foods occur will be
listed alphabetically.
MENOMINI FOOD PLANTS
CRYPTOGAMS
LICHENS
Tree Lichen (S. glomulerifera), "waku'n," or plural, "wakiinfl'k."
Shown in plate 10, fig. 1. The literal translation would be "moss or
eggs dangling or hanging on tree." Lichens are supposed to be the
scabs from the head of "Mi'nipus. He has said that he put them there
for his uncles and aunts to eat to keep them from starving. Another
version was that these lichens are the scabs from "Mi'nipus' buttocks,
after he had given the "Mi'nipus oti'te" to the Menomini. His buttocks were still scabbed from the fire at this time, so he slid down a
slanting rock and left these lichens on the rocks. These are to eat and
to sustain life. In olden times, these lichens, with no reference to any
particular species, were boiled in the broth of deer or pork, and eaten
for their flavor as well as for their medicinal qualities. The moss on
the trees which is similar in appearance to the lichens is called "onix'komik" and is also used to cook and eat. It is likewise a medicine.
"Wa'kun" is gathered at any season of the year and put away dried.
When wanted for use it is put into soups where it swells somewhat
as Irish Moss, and is eaten with a relish. There is probably no more
nourishment in it than in the general run of fleshy fungi, or about five
percent of food value, but it is highly esteemed by the Menomini for
its tonic effect on the system and the blood. This curious use as a
food suggests the lichen, Lecanorea esculenta, which was the manna
of the children of Israel during their forty years in the wilderness.
However, there is much more flesh to Lecanorea than to this species.
The Menomini speak of this moss or lichen as being a food for the deer,
much as Cladonia rangiferina is eaten by the reindeer in Alaska. The
deer of northern Wisconsin are fond of "wa'kun."
FUNGI
So far as was known to my informant only puffballs are regarded
as food by any of the Menomini. He was surprised to learn that there
were many edible fungi around him. Even after seeing the writer eat




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them without harm, he was still unconvinced, for undoubtedly in the
past the Menomini have suffered from mushroom poisoning. Yet, evidently they have learned what the white man knows that all puffballs
are edible.
PHANEROGAMS
ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY)
Hard Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), "sopoma'xtik."   Shown
in plate 7, fig. 2. Maple sugar, "sopoma'xtik so'pomo," is one of
the most important of Menomini foods and is used in almost every
combination of cookery. It takes the place of salt in Menomini cuisine,
for the aboriginal people did not use salt, and most of them do not
use it today. The legends of sugar making have been told in Mr.
Skinner's "Material Culture of the Menomini."'6 However, it is not
out of place here to give a brief resume of the process. In the latter
part of March and the first week in April, the Menomini visit their
sugar camps, the men repairing the camps and boiling vats, and cutting
wood, the women washing the birch-bark dishes and recaulking them
with pitch of the fir tree. During the sap flow, a man chops and taps
from two hundred to three hundred trees a day. Sap is collected an
hour before dark, as they believe that the night flow turns the sap
bitter. Gathered sap is stored in a hollowed basswood tree trunk vat.
The boiling in metal kettles proceeds the same as with the white man,
except that the syrup is strained through a cloth and recooked in two
or three quart quantities, until it is ready to sugar. It is then, while
still warm, poured into a wooden trough, where it is pounded and
crushed with a heavy wooden paddle as it hardens. It is stored in
birch-bark baskets called mokoks, of from 25 to 75 pounds capacity.
The sugar is graded according to its whiteness and stored away. Sap
is added to the dregs in the kettles and a second grade sugar is made.
It would be considered an insult to "Mii'nSipus to waste or spill any
sap and the sugar would shrink in amount as a punishment.
ALISMACEAE (WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY)
Arum-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria arifolia Nutt.), "wapisi'pinifik" [White potatoes]. Shown in plate 31, fig. 3. Curiously
enough, the rhizomes of a similar species in California were formerly
used as a food under the name of Wappate or Wapatoo, by the Indians
6l*Indian Notes and Monographs, Museum of the American Indian, Heye
Foundation, pp. 164-165, 1921.




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there. It was also called Tule root. This is one of the Menomini
valued wild potatoes and hard to get on their reservation. Not far
from the reservation, near Oconto, is a lake bordered by these plants,
which is accordingly named "White Potato lake." They also grow
sparingly along the banks of the reservation streams. These rhizomes
are very white inside and out. The Indians usually see them in the
water, washed out by the current, or see them near the burrow of a
muskrat or home of a beaver, where these industrious animals have
carried them for a food cache. These white potatoes are boiled, then
sliced and strung on a string of we'kop (Basswood) for winter use.
ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.), "kaka'kiume'nuka" [raven
berries]. Shown in plate 31, fig. 4. The sumac berries are dried and
stored for winter use. When they are wanted, an infusion in water
produces a drink very similar to lemonade. They are drunk as a
beverage.
ARALIACEAE (GINSENG FAMILY)
Indian Spikenard  (Aralia racemosa L.), "kwfiti'xcia kopfin"
[crane root and like a potato]. Shown in plate 15, fig. 3. This medicinal root is also edible. An aboriginal Menomini dish was spikenard
root, wild onion, wild gooseberry and sugar. This is described as
being very fine.
ASCLEPIADACEAE (MILKWEED FAMILY)
Swamp Milkweed (Ascepias incarnata L.), and Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.), shown in plate 26, fig. 2, are both called
"niinawi'tca" [thread material]. When these milkweeds are in bloom,
or even better, in bud, the heads are highly esteemed as a food, much
like the asparagus tips of the white man. They are made into soup with
deer broth or fat of some sort. They are often added to cornmeal
mush. They are also cut and dried and stored for winter use.
BERBERIDACEAE (BARBERRY FAMILY)
May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum L.), "miskatiimin." Shown
in plate 15, fig. 2. The fresh ripe fruits of the Mandrake are prized
as a food. The writer has seen them gathered by the peck and taken
home to eat or preserve.




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BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)
Hazelnut (Corylus americanus Walt.), "pakae'sfik" [little nuts].
Shown in plate 16, fig. 3. The Menomini are very fond of these when
they are in the milk stage, and also gather and dry them for winter use.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago L.), "weatcime'nfin." Shown in
plate 17, fig. 1. Although the name means "bitter poisonous berries,"
it was said that some Menomini eat them. We well know that many
white men eat and enjoy them.
High-bush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus L. americanum (Mill.)
Ait.), "pawa'hime'nfin." Shown in plate 17, fig. 2. These are rather
scarce on the Menomini reservation, but are favored as a fruit whenever they cari be found.
CELASTRACEAE (STAFF TREE FAMILY)
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens L.), "mi'niipus otite" [the entrails of Mii'n~ipus]. Shown in plate 34, fig. 3. My informant had
quite a story about the gift of this food to the Menomini. Bittersweet
is abundant on the reservation, and is found in dense woods climbing to
the tops of trees thirty feet or more in height. The curled and twisted
liane stems curiously resemble the intestines of a man, and doubtless
inspired the story. It is recognized by the Menomini that the inner
bark is palatable and will sustain life when food is hard to get. Although the story may seem a bit vulgar to the white man, the Indian
does not consider it so, being more a child of nature and apt to call a
spade, a spade. This, then, is their origin story of bittersweet. One
day Ma'nipus, their cultural hero, unclothed as always in the aboriginal
days, was roasting wild geese and turkeys in the embers of a long
fire he had built. He had put them down in the ashes, leaving only the
feet sticking out, in a fine straight row. Becoming weary with waiting
for them to cook, he decided to lie down and take a nap. Before
going to sleep he addressed his anus, as if it were a person, and charged
it to watch the fowls and allow no one to take them. He was to
awaken Mii'n~ipus should anyone come. So he went to sleep with his
back to the fire. While he slept, some Winnebago Indians saw the
smoke and were curious. As they crept up to see what was going on,
they saw the legs of the fowls sticking up above the ashes. They
cautiously pulled on the legs and at once Anus began to work at his




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appointed task of awaking Mii'nSipus. But Mii'nSipus did not waken
at the first trial, and the Winnebago fearing that he might be wakened,
bargained with Anus to be quiet, giving him a fine beadwork sash to
bind the bargain. Then they took all the fowls, cutting off the legs
and rearranging them just as they had found them. Finally MSi'nipus
awoke and feared that he had overslept and let the fowl burn. So he
took hold of the legs of one to try it, but it came up easily. Then he
tried all with the same result, and concluded that someoiie had come
while he slept and stolen them. He questioned Anus, who professed
to have tried to waken him. Then, spying the sash, MSi'naipus accused
Anus of accepting a bribe not to waken him, which Anus finally admitted. This made Mii'nipus very angry at Anus as well as at the
Winnebago, and he pronounced a curse on the Winnebago, saying
that they should be thieves from that time on as long as they lived.
Next he bethought himself of a proper punishment for Anus. He
built a small fire and squatted over it, exposing Anus to its flames. As
the fire began to scorch Anus, he complained in hisses and crackled
with agony. He was reminded by MSi'nipus that his orders were not
to be disobeyed and that this was his punishment. Finally, Anus was
subdued and cooked so he could complain no more, so Mii'nipus walked
away. As he walked, the flesh cracked open and blood spurted forth
staining the bushes ("kinnikinik") which are red to this day. Feeling
something dragging as he walked, Mii'nipus turned around and discovered that his intestines were coming out and dragging on the
ground. He broke these off and flung them on a tree, and told them
to stay there and grow for his uncles and aunts (the Menomini people).
"Now," he said, "when the chase is in vain, and food is scarce in the
wigwam, you, my uncles and aunts, may eat this vine, and you will not
starve. This will save your life." And to this day the Menomini call
the bittersweet vine "MSi'nipus otite." He rid himself of the scabs
which he felt on his buttocks by sliding down a slanting rock, and
these too became a food, the lichen or "wa'kun" of the Menomini.
Bittersweet has another name that is rarely used, "aia'pita mama'tcetau," meaning "half Indian." After giving this food to the Menomini, Mii'niipus told them that he would go to the east and remain
seated there and whenever his people talked to him, he would hear
them. By the east, they understand out over Lake Michigan and
toward Detroit. Near Detroit there are rocks sticking up which he
left there. There too may be seen his cane.




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COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), "wisanowi'k wasakana'wiit."  Shown in plate 31, fig. 1. The vinegar, made from the
last run of sap in the maple tree, is used to cook the leaves of dandelion
for a dish of greens.
CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY)
Large Tooth Cress (Dentaria maxima Nutt.), "tapikpi'nifik" [long
potato]. The running rootstock of this cress literally mats the ground
where there is a rich forest loam, wet by a spring. The tiny thread
root that connects the main stem with the rootstock is so frail that it
is difficult to associate the subterranean root with the leaf and flower,
but finally we were able to dig one in the spring of the year, with a
flower that had just withered and determined its genus and species.
It is a "potato" much relished by the Menomini, but has a pungent,
acrid taste when it is freshly dug. The mass of cleaned roots is accordingly heaped on a blanket and covered closely to exclude the air.
Then there is a natural process of fermentation for four or five days,
following which the roots are found to be sweet. The Menomini cook
it with corn, and say that, besides being good to eat, it is a good medicine
for the stomach.
CUCURBITACEAE (GOURD FAMILY)
Squash (Cucurbita pepo var.), "winamakwu'asin." Shown in plate
26, fig. 1. The native Menomini squash appears to be a cross between
a summer crookneck and a pattypan squash. They are prepared in
two ways for winter use. The more common way, at least so far as
the writer observed, was to cut them horizontally into circles.and dry
them, hanging them on poles on the rafters of the house. Some cut
them into strips and braid them after a partial drying, then dry them
stiff and hang up the braids for winter use. They also grow and exhibit at their Indian annual fair, the pumpkin, "wisa'uwikwi nama'kwfin" and a Hubbard squash, "oka'xmakumu'in."
ERICACEAE (HEATH FAMILY)
Cranberry  (Vaccinium oxycoccus L.), "pawahim'nuka."  This
is a Menomini food that is sweetened with maple sugar and eaten in
the same way as the blueberry.




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Blueberry (Vaccinium pennsylvanicum Lam.), "pawahime'nfin"
or simply "me'nftn."  Shown in plate 28, fig. 1. Blueberries are a
favorite food with the Menomini. They gather them in large quantities and dry them in the sun as raisins or currants are dried for winter
use. They are dried on a scaffold thatched with rushes. Dried blueberries and dried sweet corn are eaten together, sweetened with maple
sugar, as a special dish.
FAGACEAE (BEECH FAMILY)
Beechnuts (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), "siiwi'nimin" [beech nuts].
Beechnuts are gathered and stored for winter use, as are all of the
native nuts.
White Oak   (Quercus alba L.), "oske'xtimi," the acorns being
called "oskextemi'nfin." Any kind of acorns that were available were
eaten in aboriginal times, such as any of the acorns shown in plate
34, fig. 2. The hulls were flailed off after parching, and the acorn was
boiled till almost cooked. The water was then thrown away. Then to
fresh water, two cups of wood ashes were added. The acorns were
put into a net and were pulled out of the water after boiling in this.
The third time, they are simmered to clear them of lye water. Then
they are ground into meal with mortar and pestle, then sifted in a
birch-bark sifter. The fourth time, the meal is cooked in soup stock
of deer meat until finished and ready to eat, or made into mush with
bear oil seasoning. The old Indians never made pie, but the Menomini
now make pie of them.
Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis E. J. Hill) called Pin Oak by
the Menomini or "api'siminfin." The pin oak acorns were roasted
and ground up for coffee. The hulls were removed by flailing, and
the parched acorn ready to grind was called "ape'smenun" [black
berry].
GRAMINAE (GRASS FAMILY)
Corn (Zea mays L.), "apesa'pimin." The native varieties of corn
are variegated in the color of the grain on the same cob, ranging
from cream color to blue and black. Corn has been more or less cultivated by the Menomini from aboriginal times, and they possess an
origin myth about it which is described by Mr. Skinner in his "Material Culture of the Menomini."7 Their use nearly parallels the white
'Op. Cit., pp. 154-156.




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man's uses, even to the roasting ears and hominy, which is made substantially the same way. But their various ways of curing and drying
it for winter use differ from the white man's way. Their after use
and the combinations of it with other foods are also different. The
women gather the corn in the field when it is nearly ripe and parboil it.
When half cooked, they cut off or shell the kernels and dry them in the
sun. They also make more use of popcorn than does the white man.
Popcorn, "nanisa'pimin" [mouse corn], was prepared by roasting or
parching and pounding it to a meal, adding dried venison, maple sugar
or wild rice or all three. This made a very sustaining ration for the
hunter, taking very little space to carry and being very nourishing.
Another trail ration was parched ordinary corn ground and mixed
with bear oil. Scorched or parched corn was often used as a substitute for coffee.
Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica L.), "ma'no'min."  Shown in plate
27, fig. 2. This is the plant from which the Menomini tribe derived its
name and is, of course, their chief and best aboriginal food. The whole
story of wild rice has been carefully worked out in Mr. Skinner's
"Material Culture of the Menomini" and has been made the topic of
one of the first Public Museum exhibition groups. The writer has
seen the present day camps and methods of gathering, preparing and
storing, and will give a brief account of the same. The Indians go to
the lakes where it grows, while it is still in the milk, and set up camp
such as that shown in plate 28, fig. 3, to wait for it to ripen, as time
is no object to them. When this time arrives, all of the spirits connected with the rice are addressed in prayer and are feasted, so that a
good harvest may be had. The next morning, if ripe rice is to be
gathered, the Indians go to the rice beds, three in a canoe, two women
to gather the rice and one man to pole the boat. The women pull the
heads over the boat and beat off the grains into the bottom of the boat.
On the return loaded trip, the women trample the rice to break off
the spiny beards or awns. The unhulled kernels are next parched in
a dry kettle. A small hole is dug and fitted with a candy bucket or
lined with cloth for the threshing floor. A small quantity is poured
in and a man wearing moccasins that are new, steps in to trample and
thresh it, as will be seen in plate 29, fig. 1. He has a stake driven
into the ground near the hole, to grasp and help him keep his balance,
while tramping up and down on the rice. The next operation is win*Op. Cit., pp. 142-152.




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nowing, as shown in plate 29, fig. 2. A large shallow birch-bark tray is
shaken up and down by a woman to allow the chaff to be removed by
the wind or to bring it to the top to be removed by hand. Next the
rice is washed to clean it of foreign matter and of the smoky flavor of
parching. Then it is ready to cook or store. One part of this rice to
six parts of water, gives one the notion of how greatly it swells in
cooking. The kernels are about six times as long as they are broad
and in cooking the ends curl back till both are brought back to the
middle, thus differing from Oryza sativa, the white man's rice. The
proper way to cook it is with deer broth and season it with maple
sugar. Failing this, nowadays, pork or butter is used, with maple
sugar.
HYDROPHYLLACEAE (WATERLEAF FAMILY)
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum L.), "pitii'pitci'pa." Shown in plate 33, fig. 1. The leaves of this plant are eaten as
greens. First they are wilted like lettuce in vinegar made from the
last run of maple sap, then simmered in a kettle. The first water is
thrown away. They are then boiled with pork and fine meal until
ready to serve.
JUGLANDACEAE (HICKORY FAMILY)
Shellbark Hickory (Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch), "nano'tckopikan." Shown in plate 9, fig. 1. The use of these nuts parallels that of
the white man, with no uses peculiar to the Menomini, so far as we
could learn.
Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.), "pfika'nawe" and the nuts "pfika'nawe paka'n." Shown in plate 7, fig. 4. No black walnuts were found
on the reservation, but butternuts were plentiful. The Indians use
them in the same way that the white man does.
LEGUMINOSAE (BEAN FAMILY)
Groundnut (Apios tuberosa Moench.), "ma'tcetaupi'nifik" [Indian
potatoes]. Shown in plate 29, fig. 3. It was difficult to connect the
root of this very important "potato" with its above ground portion.
Only on a fourth trial was it definitely seen to be the groundnut. It
usually grows in low-lying rich soil and in such a tangle of other
vegetation that it is difficult to work out the connection between the




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root and the stem. If one knew in advance what species to seek, then
the connection would be easily found. The root-stocks are moniliform,
that is, like a chain of beads, running in every direction for from fifteen
to twenty-five feet, at five or six inches below the surface. The tuberous
enlargements or beads are very numerous with no definite intervals
between them, usually from six to twenty inches apart, as will be seen
in plate 30, fig. 1. They run from marble size to three inches in diameter. These "potatoes" are sweet, starchy and quite palatable raw.
They are peeled, parboiled, sliced and dried for winter use. When
cooked, maple sugar is used until it thickens to a sticky syrup and the
resulting flavor is superior to candied yams.
Cranberry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Shown in plate 29, fig.
4. Our present day red Cranberry pole beans originally came from
the Indians, and this is the variety that the Menomini grew in aboriginal times. It is a staple article of food with them and has been cultivated so long that it is really not known how old it is. It enters into
many combinations of Menomini food, which would seem queer to the
white man.
LILIACEAE (LILY FAMILY)
Wild Leek (Alliumn tricoccumn Ait.), "pikwu'tc sikaku'shia" [the
skunk]. Shown in plate 32, fig. 4. The word for skunk in Menomini
as well as other Algonkian Indian tongues in different parts of the
country is "sika'k." The word "shika'ko" or "skunk place" is the
origin of the word Chicago, which in aboriginal times was the locality
of an abundance of these wild leeks. This is the larger wild onion
known as the hero's onion, or the one pointed out by MSi'nipus for
food. It is very highly esteemed by the Menomini and is sought especially in the spring. It is then much rounder and plumper than in the
fall when it is shrunken. It is also gathered and dried for future use.
It is somewhat bitter to the taste. The smaller wild onion is sweeter.
Wild Onion (Allium canadense Roth), "sikaku'sia."  Shown in
plate 32, fig. 1. The smaller wild onion is sweeter in flavor than the
one above mentioned, and is much sought by the Menomini for food.
It is too small to be a very large addition to their menu.
NYMPHAEACEAE (WATER LILY FAMILY)
Yellow Water Lily (Nymphaea advena Ait.), "waka'tamo." The
root as a vegetable is called "wa'kepin." The large fleshy rhizomes




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are starchy and firm. They are cooked in the same manner as rutabaga.
OSMUNDACEAE (CINNAMON FERN FAMILY)
Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea L.), shown in plate 27,
fig. 1, "nonakona'wfis" [milk or breast of woman], a general name for
ferns, because of their medicinal value to the Menomini in promoting
a flow of milk and in curing caked breasts. The young coiled fronds
as they are opening are comparable to asparagus tips and are much
relished by the Menomini. The frond tips are simmered for an hour
to rid them of ants. This water is discarded. The fern is then put into
soup stock and thickened with flour. It is widely eaten by the tribe
and has a flavor similar to wild rice.
When these fronds are unfolding, it is the time of the year that
fawns are being dropped, and as the doe feeds upon these shoots, the
intending hunter must eat nothing else while he is hunting for deer.
Then he will not give off any other scent than that of the fern, and the
deer will not be frightened away. The hunter takes his bow and arrow
and his "squaker," along with his deer charm, "pitcime'wfis," and,
hiding himself, imitates the sound of a fawn in distress.. The doe
comes and, not scenting anything but the fern, is easily shot with the
arrow. After killing the deer, the hunter may eat whatever he wants.
RANUNCULACEAE (CROWFOOT FAMILY)
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris L.), "wisasipu'kwa" [a leaf
that is slippery]. Shown in plate 33, fig. 4. The Menomini use this
as greens in the spring and many know it under the name of Cowslip,
the white man's name.
RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus L.), "kitfi'ki miinitu"
[spotted manitou]. Shown in plate 21, fig. 1. The dried leaves of
New Jersey Tea are used as a substitute for Ceylon black tea by the
Menomini. Although my informant could not say, it is quite possible
that the tribe learned this use from the civil war veterans among their
number, who discovered it during the war.
ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
Juneberries (Amelanchier huronensis Wieg.), (Amnelanchier laevis




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Wieg.) and (Amelanchier canadensis x laevis), "osikwikominu'ka"
and "ane'piminun."  Shown in plate 30, fig. 2. The Juneberry or
service-berry is a favorite food of the Menomini, seemingly as important as blueberries. It is gathered and dried for winter use the
same as blueberries.
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana Duchesne). Shown in plate
33, fig. 2. There is nothing quite so full of flavor as the wild strawberry and the Menomini are very fond of eating them on the spot.
Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila L.), "naxno'emin."  The large sand
cherries are eaten out of hand and are sometimes gathered and preserved.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), "iwi'skipi me'nfin." Shown
in plate 23, fig. 3. These cherries, if eaten when they have been picked
and allowed to stand some time, are said to make the Indian drunk.
They are also eaten fresh.
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana L.), "pina'nowe me'nfin" [puckering berry], "tit~i'kimenfin" and "wiki'shimenfin" [birchbark berry].
Shown in plate 8, fig. 1. The writer has observed women and children
working on baskets, and keeping a continual stream of choke cherry
seeds dropping from their lips as they stripped small branches of
cherries to eat. The bark of the choke cherry is boiled to furnish a
regular tea which is drunk with meals.
Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter), "onakana'wfis." Shown
in plate 25, fig. 4. The Menomini gather and eat the blackberries in
pies, and also dry and store them for winter use.
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus aculeatissimus (C. A. Mey) Regel
& Tiling), "maki'nitu onakanawi."  Shown in plate 25, fig. 3. This
berry is not as abundant as the blackberry and is only eaten fresh,
so far as my informant knew.
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.), "onakana'wfls."  On
the Menomini reservation, this is the least frequently seen of the three
Rubus species, and it is not important as a fresh fruit.
SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY)
Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati L.), "nomi'kimin" [beaver
berry], and "kawime'nfin" [the thorny berry]. Shown in plate 23,
fig. 1. Gooseberries are one of the staple berries gathered by the
Menomini and are preserved and stored for winter use. Previous reference has been made to its use in a favorite aboriginal Menomini dish.




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SOLANACEAE (POTATO FAMILY)
Indian Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), "wakikpi'nifik." Shown
in plate 32, fig. 2. These "Irish potatoes" were referred to in English
by some of the Menomini as "nigger toes." They were an odd looking
sort of early "potato," with suggestions in color of the Early Rose,
but a deeper purple hue. They grow differently in the hill from our
Irish potato, standing upon end, or being vertically dependent. The
Menomini grower said that his grandfather grew this same kind of
potato and that so far as he knew, the Menomini had always grown
them. They produce heavily in new ground and attain a length of
eight inches, with a diameter of possibly two inches. The writer had
never seen anything like them and sent back some to be modeled for
the Museum exhibit collections.
UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)
Woolly Sweet Cicely (Osmorrhiza claytoni (Mx.) Clarke), "mano'na hisenu'kwosit" [the one that looks like wild rice]. Shown in
plate 33, fig. 3. This is not so much a food as a medicine. For one
that is losing flesh, this is a fattener. It has the taste of a carrot and
must be eaten cautiously, eating one branch or piece of the root at a
time.
VITACEAE (VINE FAMILY)
Frost Grape (Vitis cordifolia Mx.), "sewa'nfun." Wild grapes are
esteemed by the Menomini in exactly the same way that the white
man likes them. They eat them fresh, preserve them, dry them or
make jelly from them.
MENOMINI VEGETAL FIBERS
The writer believes that there were plants used for fibers that are
not known to the present members of the Menomini tribe. The white
man's fiber plants for use as textiles, cordage, in the fine arts, and in
all lines of uses are so much better and more cheaply manufactured,
that native uses of fibers have become almost a thing of the past.
Thread, string, rope, cotton or woolen cloth have all been so inexpensive in the past that it was hardly worth while for the Indian to
continue his laborious home manufacture of these often inferior
articles.




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With the passing of the use of native fiber plants, and the changing
from the wigwam to the frame house (see plate 12, fig. 1), the technique of fabricating their wigwams, house furnishings and clothing is
also passing so that possibly another ten years will write the end of
their native fiber chapter. Nowadays, there are many automobiles
owned by the Menomini and there is a marked change in every phase
of their life.
The writer was fortunate enough to still find some old Menomini
who still recalled native uses of fibers. In the pagan settlement around
Zoar, one may still see a good deal of native art. The native bone
needles, however, have given way to the white man's steel needles and
the hum of the sewing machine may be heard in many a Menomini
home.
It seems likely that we must look to the government schools for the
perpetuation of Indian art or design, more than to the instruction of
the children by their parents. In the industrial school at Keshena,
the children are encouraged in their art and craft work to preserve
the Indian designs, and this is as it should be.
Strictly speaking, the use of woods in their houses, for utensils,
implements and so forth is not a fiber use, but it will be treated under
this head, because it is not so varied as to merit a separate section of
this publication.
As before, the families will be listed alphabetically, and descriptions
of uses will be given along the same lines as those preceding.
MENOMINI FIBER PLANTS
ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY)
Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum Lam.), "sopoma'tik nipia'kum
asepa'ka." From this leaf comes the maple leaf design found in
Menomini bead-work and applique work. It is not the usual sugar
maple-leaf shape, which one might suppose that they would copy. A
paper copy of one of these leaves forms a single stencil which is laid
down and repeated as often as desired. It is covered with charcoal or
flour paste to transfer the design.
APOCYNACEAE (DOGBANE FAMILY)
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium L.), "sii'nfip."
Shown in plate 35, fig. 4. The outer bark or rind of this herb furnished




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the finest Menomini thread material. The smallest divisions of this
bast fiber are finer than our finest cotton thread and stronger. Just
before the fruit has ripened the outer bark is peeled. By using three
strands, it is plaited so that a very strong cord is obtained. In the
old days, this was the way the Menomini made their bow string. It
was also by further combining and plaiting made into heavier ropes.
ASCLEPIADACEAE (MILKWEED FAMILY)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.), "niniwi'tca" [thread
material]. Shown in plate 26, fig. 2. This and other milkweeds are
used in the same way that spreading dogbane is used, for sewing thread
and making cords for fishlines, etc.
BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)
The yellow birch, white birch, hazel shoots, and smooth and speckled
alders are all used casually by the Menomini for making medicine lodge
frames, fencing and for poles of various kinds, but without any special reference to the fitness of any particular species or any special
name other than those already given. Their wide use of white birchbark for storage baskets, sap buckets, wigwam coverings, canoes and
many kindred uses is well known.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY)
Common Elderberry    (Sambucus canadensis L.), "papa'skitci'ksi
kanax'tik." Shown in plate 16, fig. 2. Aside from the medical uses, the
stems were used by the children to make pop guns after punching out
the pith.
CYPERACEAE (SEDGE FAMILY)
Great Bulrush (Scirpus validus Vahl.), "nipia'skfin" [weed that
grows in the water]. This is the standard Menomini mat material.
The writer saw the various processes in the making of mats. The
rushes are gathered, cleansed, bleached and dried in the sun, and then
sorted for weaving. Native dyes are used in working out patterns,
plain mats selling at a dollar a yard. Large sewed mats of the cat-tail
were formerly used in making the covering and side walls of wigwams
and medicine lodges. In this case, the rushes were pierced and sewed
with bone needles, using basswood string for thread.




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EQUISETACEAE (HORSETAIL FAMILY)
Field Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale L.), "kise'paskfin." Shown
in plate 11, fig. 1. This species is employed as a scouring rush for pots
and pans in the same manner as it was formerly used by the white man.
FAGACEAE (BEECH FAMILY)
Beech and also oaks were used by the Menomini for fencing, for
building and for fuel. The names of the different kinds have already
been given in the discussions of medicines and foods.
GRAMINAE (GRASS FAMILY)
Sweet Grass (Hierochloe odorata (L.) Wallenb.), "we'nuskwfin"
[stinking]. Fragrant and vile odors are all designated by the one
word in Menomini, which is translated "stinking." This grass is used
in their basketry and as a perfume. The Menomini will find it when
it is not in fruit and where the white man would overlook it. It was
also said to be used to burn as an oblation to their deities. In sewing,
sweet grass is used wet, and when it dries it is tight. Cooked resin
was often used to go over the sewing. This resin is called "askapike'wi"
and is from the fir or pine tree. A flat skillet is used to heat the resin,
and there must be no blaze. It must be cooked slowly. Seasoned
hemlock bark, "neisano paianek" [two times blaze], is used for the
fuel, because it makes a good fire without smoke. This same fuel is
used in cooking maple syrup.
OLEACEAE (OLIVE FAMILY)
Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.), "anepaka'xkwil'tik."  Shown
in plate 9, fig. 3. Ash wood is used in the same manner by the Menomini as by the white man. In aboriginal times, bows and arrows
were made of black ash.
PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)
Balsam fir, white spruce, jack, red and white pine, and cedar are
all used as woods by the Menomini.
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb), "okika'tik." The small roots
of Jack pine, whole or split, are used as cords to sew the birch bark
canoe. They are boiled to render them more pliable, and the stitching
is sealed with pitch or boiled resin.




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Cedar or Arbor-vitae  (Thuja occidentalis L.), "kesa'wana'uki"
[cedar bark]. Shown in plate 8, fig. 3. Cedar bark is very stringy,
and this fiber was used by the aboriginal Menomini to weave bags.
ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
Juneberry, choke cherry, and black cherry woods were used by the
Menomini as by the white man.
SALICACEAE (WILLOW FAMILY)
Balm of Gilead, large toothed aspen, and the native willows were
all used by the Menomini as ordinary woods. One basket woven from
willow twigs was observed.
THYMELEACEAE (MEZEREUM FAMILY)
Leatherwood   (Dirca palustris L.), "wex'tike'kop."  The tough
bark or even twigs of the leatherwood was used for cordage by the
aboriginal Menomini. Even now emergency cordage is made from
the leatherwood.
TILIACEAE (BASSWOOD FAMILY)
Basswood (Tilia americana L.), "wexkop'."  Shown in plate 12,
fig. 4. Basswood bast or bark fiber was and is the ready cordage for
the Menomini. Balls of the twine are kept in every Menomini household, for tying, sewing, or for weaving bags. The women make this
twine and go to the forest to gather the raw material. Saplings are
peeled in the spring when the cambium is active and it is readily
separable. A long strip of bark is peeled off and the outer cortex is
slightly cut. Then the bark is bent at the cut until it projects far
enough to get the teeth fastened on the outer rind. This is then pulled
off and thrown away. It is now ready for use, except dividing it down
to the desired size. Should a ball of twine be wanted, the gathered
bark is coiled and bound to keep it in a coil, then boiled in lye water.
When the fibers begin to spread, it is taken out, dried and seasoned.
Then it is cut three feet long and rolled to break up the fibrovascular
bundles. Finally, it is twisted and joined by the Menomini woman
against her shin and between her palms. Basswood fiber is used widely in many arts. Matting and baskets, fish-nets and nets for snowshoes
are made from it.




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TYPHACEAE (CAT-TAIL FAMILY)
Cat-tail (Typha latifolia L.), "up'akiu oti'pa." Shown in plate 35,
fig. 3. The root of the cat-tail is used as a natural oakum for caulking
leaks in boats. The leaves are used to make mats to cover the winter
lodges, much as the bulrush mats are made. Because of the heavy
flat layers, they keep out the rain and snow and are well adapted to
winter thatching. In summer they are stored away for the next
year's use.
URTICACEAE (NETTLE FAMILY)
Slender Nettle (Urtica gracilis Ait.), shown in plate 35, fig. 2,
and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis (L.) Gaud.) are both called
"Si'nip," which is the rightful name for another genus. Both are
retted to obtain the Indian hemp twine, which is used in making fiber
bags called "Si'nfip minu'ti."
Slippery Elm (Ulmnus fulva Mx.), "sausi'kop." Shown in plate 7,
fig. 3. The slippery elm bark is gathered and boiled and used in the
same manner as basswood bark for making fiber bags, large storage
baskets, etc.
MENOMINI VEGETAL DYES
There is some evidence to lead one to believe that the Menomini
have forgotten how some of their colors were obtained. Green was
said to have been a vegetable dye, but there are none of the Menomini
now that know the source of it. All their vegetal dyes were obtained
by boiling the part of the plant that yields the color, be it the leaves,
root or bark.
The present day Menomini still depends on the native vegetal dyes
to a large extent for his red, yellow and black colors. Other colors
are supplied by the dyes of the white man. The Menomini says that
the white man's dyes are not so permanent as his native dyes, and for
this reason prefers his own.
MENOMINI DYE PLANTS
ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.), "kaka'kiumeni'ka."  Shown
in plate 9, fig. 4. The roots of the Sumac when boiled yield the Menomini yellow dye, their word for the color being "wasa'ukik."




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[Vol. 4.

BALSAMINACEAE (TOUCH-ME-NOT FAMILY)
Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens biflora Walt.), "sewipoko'tcikfin." Shown in plate 36, fig. 1. The whole plant is used to make
an orange yellow dye.
BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)
Speckled Alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.), "wi'top."  This
alder bark is boiled to yield a reddish brown dyestuff. The cloth or
other material to be colored is immersed in the boiling liquid.
JUGLANDACEAE (WALNUT FAMILY)
Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.), "puka'nawe." Shown in plate 7,
fig. 4. The juice of the husk of this nut was formerly used to dye the
Menomini deerskin shirts brown. Butternut bark is used to obtain
their black color called "ape'siu," "ai'pinik" or "iipe'skik." For a deep
black color, the bark was boiled with blue clay.
OXALIDACEAE (OXALIS FAMILY)
Ladies' Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata L.), "wasa'wfis."  Shown in
plate 14, fig. 1. The Menomini do not distinguish between O. corniculata and O. acetosella and O. stricta so far as furnishing the color
is concerned. The whole plant, when boiled, gives a yellow dye.
PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.), "wapitcika'wi." Shown
in plate 14, fig. 2. The fresh root of blood root was often used to paint
the face of a warrior. The boiled root furnished a dye that the Menomini women used in coloring their mats red or orange red. Other
tribes use the fresh juice of the blood root on maple sugar to cure a
sore throat, but the writer was unable to find any such practice among
the Menomini.
PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.), "miusikfi'kowe wona'uki" [hemlock bark]. Boiled hemlock bark is the source of the dark
red coloring of the Menomini.




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

79

RANUNCULACEAE (CROWFOOT FAMILY)
Hooked Crowfoot (Ranunculus recurvatus Poir.), "sewapokii'tcikin" [sweet water and the added color]. The root of this plant is a
coloring material for a shade of red. When it is boiled, the coloring
matter is extracted and the material is immersed in the tepid dye water.
MISCELLANEOUS USES OF PLANTS
Under this head will be considered plants used in tanning, love
charms and for sacred or ceremonial uses. In the latter class, much
of the information might be regarded as pure superstition.
Much of the tanning is not done with vegetable matter, but with
animal and mineral matter, as described in Mr. Skinner's "Material
Culture of the Menomini."9 Yet there are roots and herbs used in
the preparation of skins with the fur left on, to prevent moths and
insects from eating off the hairs. Unfortunately, my informant was
not versed in this branch of their art, and was unable to find anyone
who could give the information relating to this work.
LYCOPERDALES (PUFFBALL FAMILY)
Gem   Puffballs (L. pyriforme schaef.), "iniki'wi opa'skfik."
Shown in plate 10, fig. 4. The powder of this puffball was sometimes
used by warriors for putting out the eyes of the enemy. When puffed
into the enemy's eyes it was said to induce permanent blindness.
APOCYNACEAE (DOGBANE FAMILY)
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium L.), "nimuskwi'tcikfin" [hunting medicine]. Shown in plate 35, fig. 4. This
plant stalk is also used as a helper to call up deer. It becomes a magnet.
The hunter has a regular deer "squacker" and keeps this plant or
cynthia in his mouth, sucking it as he proceeds, making believe that he
is the fawn, wanting to call the doe because he is hungry. When he
is hunting for deer he must not eat pepper, onions, or any sweet. After
he has killed the deer, he may eat whatever he chooses.
ARACEAE (ARUM FAMILY)
Dragon Root (Arisaema dracontium (L.) Schott.), "miniuv' os&t"
SOP. Cit., pp. 224-229.




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[Vol. 4.

{owl's foot]. Shown in plate 10, fig. 2. This root is often found in
sacred bundles, where it gives the power of supernatural dreams to
the owner.
ARALIACEAE (GINSENG FAMILY)
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.), "miitcxetasa [little Indian].
Ginseng root is also used as a hunting charm, as well as a medicine.
The root is chewed and imparts a lure to the breath, assisting the
"squacking" machine or deer call to become effective in luring the
deer. It is also put into some war-bundles as well as hunting bundles.
BORAGINACEAE (BORAGE FAMILY)
Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens (Mx.) Lehm.), "megi'se" [bead]. Shown in plate 36, fig. 2. It is very difficult for a
white man to get any exact information about sacred objects of the
Menomini. The white ripened seed of this plant is supposed to be a
sort of sacred bead used in the "miti'win" ceremony.
COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY)
Cynthia (Krigia amplexicaulis Nutt.), "pitcime'wfis." Shown in
plate 36, fig. 4. This and a Lactuca canadensis were said to be a deer
charm. The old Menomini were able to take the hollow stem, much
as children nowadays make a pipe out of dandelion stems to blow a
note, and make a wail that simulated a fawn in distress. Because
this plant had milk like the doe at that time, it lured the doe, which
would come close to the hunter so that he could kill it with his bow
and arrow.
CORNACEAE (DOGWOOD FAMILY)
Silky Cornel (Cornus amomum Mill.), "kinnikinik," shown in
plate 18, fig. 4, and Alternate-leaved Cornel (Cornus alternifolia
L.f.), shown in plate 18, fig. 1, also called "kinnikinik."  The inner
bark of both species was used by the Menomini for smoking tobacco.
In these latter days it is mixed with real tobacco, but in olden times it
was used alone. It was gathered and toasted to prepare it, the manner
of preparation being well told in Dr. Barrett's "Dream Dance of the
Chippewa and Menomini Indians of Northern Wisconsin."xo
'oPresent series, Vol. I, Art. IV, pp. 357-368.




1923]

SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.

81

FUMARIACEAE (FUMITORY FAMILY)
Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.), "a'nimau kapotise'sa" [the one that looks like little pants, with his hands in
his pockets]. Shown in plate 12, fig. 3. This is probably a translation
into Indian of the English name. This is one of the most important
love charms of the Menomini. The young swain tries to throw it at his
intended and hit her with it. Another way is for him to chew the
root, breathing out so that the scent will carry to her. He then circles
around the girl and when she catches the scent, she will follow him
wherever he goes, even against her will.
PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)
Cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.), "ke'sa'sata'uk."  Shown in plate
8, fig. 3. The leaves of the cedar are the Menomini moth balls. They
store away clothes with layers of the leaf sprays to keep out the moths.
SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY)
Bishop's Cap (Mitella diphylla L.). Shown in plate 35, fig. 1.
The small shining black seed of this insignificant plant is the sacred
bead, "me'gise," that is swallowed in the medicine dance, during the
reinstatement ceremony.
SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.), "mene'nun
matciki'kto'." Shown in plate 34, fig. 4, and in plate 36, fig. 3. This
is a Menomini love charm like the Dutchman's Breeches. However,
it is employed in a somewhat different fashion, the scheme being to
try to secrete some of the herb upon the person who is the object of
the enamour.
Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis L.), "miti'mu sewfls otci'pa" [woman enticer root]. Shown in plate 34, fig. 1. The root of this
is carried on the person of the Menomini who is contemplating making
love advances.
UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)
Cow Parsnip (Heracleumn lanatum Mx.), "piki'wfinfits." Shown
in plate 24, fig. 1. This herb is always found in the hunting bundle.




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[Vol. 4.

It is a very personal sort of a deer charm, as only the owner of the
bundle can handle it. If others touch it they will turn black and die.
After the deer is killed, then it must be hung up and smudged for four
days, after certain parts are removed. This plant and the leaves of
Cynthia are burned in the smudge to take out the charm, by which the
hunter was enabled to kill the deer. This smudge is also to drive
away the evil spirit called sokenau, whose special mission is to steal
one's hunting luck. On a deer hunt, as soon as the camp is established
and the fire built, some of this cow parsnip is thrown into the fire, and
the odor and smoke permeate the air for great distances, making it
impossible for the sokenau to approach too closely under ordinary
circumstances. But if sokenau is desperate and determined to steal
one's hunting luck, he may come right into camp, but the smoke of
pikiwunus will cause him to go blind. In case a person is afflicted with
bad hunting luck, a medicine made of pikiwunus seeds, muskikwus
and na'sikun is used. The whole hunting paraphernalia is smoked
and smudged to drive away bad luck. The hunter must not eat any
of the meat during this four days' smudging process, if he did, the
Menomini believe that he would turn black and die. Wild ginger root
is boiled with deer meat to remove the hunting charm.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the writer wants to lament the passing of the olden
times. It hardly seems necessary, when the Menomini tribe is so
numerically weak, that they should struggle to ape the white man.
They have a good reservation and have always been self-supporting
in their own fashion, and have been in many respects a happier race
than the whites. At best, their traditions and instincts keep cropping
out, and it is a hard struggle to put themselves on a plane of competition with the white man. They are certainly more interesting and
happier among themselves, to follow their own ways, and only a small
percentage will ever be absorbed into our population.




1923]       SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          83
FINDING LIST OF PLANTS
BY SCIENTIFIC NAME
Abies balsamea......................................... 45
ACERACEAL......................................61, 73
Acer saccharum......................................... 61
Acer spicatum.......................................... 73
Achillea millefolium..................................... 28
Acorus calamus......................................... 22
Actaea rubra........................................... 48
Adiantum pedatum...................................... 47
ALJSMACEAE......................................... 61
Allium canadense........................................ 69
Allium tricoccum.....................:................... 69
Alnus incana........................................26, 78
Alnus rugosa........................................... 26
Amelanchier huronensis.................................. 70
ANACARDIACEAL.............................22, 62, 77
Andromeda glaucophylla................................. 35
Anemone canadensis..................................... 48
Anemone quinquefolia................................... 48
Anemone virginiana..................................... 48
Angelica atropurpurea................................... 55
Antennaria neodioica..................................... 29
Anthemis cotula........................................ 29
Apios tuberosa......................................... 68
APOCYNACEAE....................................73, 79
Apocynum androsaemifolium...........................73, 79
AQUI FO LIACEAL................................... 22
Aquilegia canadensis..................................... 48
ARACEAL.......................................22, 79
ARALIACEAE.................................... 24, 62
Aralia nudicaulis........................................ 24
Aralia racemosa......................................24, 62
Arctostaphylos uva-ursa.................................. 35




84          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.    [Vol.4.
Arethusa bulbosa....................................... 43
Arisaema dracontium.................................23, 79
Arisaema triphyllum..................................... 23
ARJSTOLOCHJACEAE................................. 24
Artemisia biennis....................................... 29
Artemisia canadensis.................................... 29
Asarum canadense...................................... 24
ASCLEPIADACEAE.............................25, 62, 74
Asciepias incarnata...................................... 62
Asclepias syriaca.....................................62, 74
Asciepias tuberosa...................................... 25
Aster lowrieanus....................................... 29
BALSAM INACEAE.................................... 78
BERB ERIDACEAE................................. 25, 62
Bcrtcroa i nCana........................................ 33
BETULACEAE...............................26, 63, 74, 78
Betula pumila glandulifera............................... 26
BORAGINACEAE..................................... 80
Botrichium obliquum...................................43
Botrichium virginianum.................................. 43
Brasenia schreberi...................................... 42
Calopogon puichellus.................................... 44
Caitha palustris........................................ 70
CAM PANULACEAE................................... 27
Campanula rotundifolia................................... 27
CAPRIFOLIACEAL.............................27, 63, 74
Capsella bursa-pastoris................................... 33
Carex plantaginca...................................... 34
Carpinus caroliniana..................................... 26
Carum carui............................................ 55
Carya ovata............................................ 68
CARYOPHYLLACEAE................................. 28
Castalia odorata........................................ 42
Castalia tuberosa....................................... 42
Castilleja coccinea...................................... 81
Castilleja sessiliflora..................................... 53
Caulophyllum thalictroides.............................. ""25
Ceanothus americanus................................49, 70
CELASTRACEAE..................................... 63




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          85
Celastrus scandens...................................... 63
Chamaedaphfle calyculata................................ 35
CH-ARACEAE......................................... 21
Chara fragilis........................................... 21
CHIEN OPOD IACEAE................................... 28
Chenopodium album..................................... 28
Chirnapila umbellata..................................... 35
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum............................ 29
Cicuta maculata......................................... 55
Circaea alpina.......................................... 43
Circaea lutetiana........................................ 43
Clintonia borealis....................................... 40
Cornandra umbellata..................................... 52
COMPOSITAL..................................28, 65, 80
CON VO LVULACEAE.................................. 31
Convolvulus sepium....................................31
Coptis trifolia.......................................... 48
CORNACEAE......................................32, 80
Cornus alternifolia...................................32, 80
Cornus amomum.....................................32, 80
Cornus circinata........................................ 32
Cornus paniculata....................................... 32
Cornus stolonifera....................................... 32
Corylus americana...................................26, 63
CRUCIFERAL...................................... 33, 65
Cryptotaenia canadensis.................................. 55
CUCURBITACEAL.................................33, 65
Cucurbita pepo var...................................33, 65
CYPERACEAE...................................... 34, 74
Cypripedium acaule...................................... 44
Cypripedium hirsutum................................... 44
Cypripedium parviflorum pubescens........................ 44
Dentaria maxima........................................ 65
Desmodium grandiflorum................................. 40
Dicentra cucullaria.............................""""""""""81
Diervilla lonicera........................................ 27
DI OS COREACEAE..................................... 34
Dioscorea villosa........................................ 34
Dirca palustris.......................................54, 76




86          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.    [Vol. 4.
Echinocystis lobata...................................... 33
Elodea canadensis....................................... 37
Epilobium angustifolium................................. 43
EQUISETACEAE...................................34, 75
Equisetum hyemale..................................34, 75
Equisetum sylvaticum................................... 35
ERICACEAE........................................35, 65
Erigeron annuus........................................ 29
Erigeron puichellus...................................... 30
Erigeron ramosus....................................... 30
Erysimum cheiranthoides................................. 33
Erysimum parviflorum................................... 33
Eupatorium perfoliatum.................................. 30
Eupatorium purpureum.................................. 30
FAGACEAE.....................................36, 66, 75
Fagus grandifolia....................................36, 66
Fragaria virginiana...................................49, 71
Fraxinus nigra.......................................43, 75
FUMARJACEAE....................................... 81
FUNGI.............................................21, 60
Galium boreale......................................... 50
Galium triflorum........................................ 51
Gaultheria procumbens................................... 35
GENTJANACEAE...................................... 36
GERANIACEAE....................................... 36
Geranium maculatum.................................... 36
Gnaphalium polycephalum................................ 30
GRAMINAL........................................37, 66
Hiabenaria sps........................................... 44
Halenia deflexa......................................... 36
HALORHAGIDACEAE................................. 37
HAMAMELIDACEAE.................................. 37
Hlamamelis virginiana.................................... 37
Helenium autumnale..................................... 30
Hepatica acutiloba...................................... 48
Heracleum lanatum..................................55, 81
Heuchera hispida....................................... 53
Hierochioe odorata...................................... 75
Houstonia longif olia..................................... 51




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.         87
HYDROCHARITACEAL................................ 37
HYDROPHYLLACEAE.............................37, 68
Flydrophyllum virginianum............................37, 68
FIYPERICACEAE...................................... 37
Hypericum ascyron...................................... 37
Hypericum mutilum..................................... 38
Impatiens biflora........................................ 78
IRIDACEAL.......................................... 38
Iris versicolor.......................................... 38
JUGLANDACEAE...............................38, 68, 78
Juglans cinerea...................................38, 68, 78
JUNCACEAL.......................................... 39
Krigia amplexicaulis..................................... 80
LABIATAE........................................... 39
Lactuca canadensis...................................... 31
Laportea canadensis..................................56, 77
Larix larcina........................................... 45
Lathyrus ochroleucus.................................... 40
Lathyrus palustris....................................... 40
Lathyrus venosus....................................... 40
LEGUMJNOSAE.................................... 40, 69
LENTIBULARIACEAE................................. 40
Leonurus cardiaca....................................... 39
Lepidium virginicum...................................... 33
Ligusticum fiicinum....................................55
LILIACEAL........................................40, 69
Lilium superbum........................................ 41
Linaria vulgaris......................................... 53
Linnaea borealis........................................ 27
Lithospermum canescens................................. 80
LOBELIACEAE..........................................42
Lobelia spicata......................................... 42
Lonicera canadensis..................................... 27
Lonicera dioica........................................27
Lupinus perennis........................................ 40
Lycoperdales............................................ 79
Lycoperdon pyriforme.............................21, 60, 79
LYCO PODIA CEAE..................................... 42
Lycopodium complanatum................................ 42




88          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.      [Vol. 4.
Lycopodium lucidulum.................................42
Lycopus americanus..................................... 39
Maianthemum canadense................................. 41
MARCHANTIALES.................................... 21
Marchantia polymorpha.................................. 21
Melampyrum lineare..................................... 53
Mentha arvensis canadensis................................ 39
Mentha piperita........................................ 39
Menyanthes trifoliata.................................... 36
Mimulus ringens........................................ 53
Mitchella repens.......................................51
Mitella diphylla........................................81
Monarda fistulosa........................................ 39
Moneses uniflora........................................ 35
Myrica asplenifolia...................................... 42
MYRICACEAE........................................ 42
Myriophyllum spicatum.................................. 37
NAIADACEAL........................................ 42
N ernopanthus mucronata................................. 22
Nepeta cataria.......................................... 39
Nepeta hederacea....................................... 40
Nymphaea advena...................................42, 69
NYMPHAEACEAE.................................42, 69
Oenothera pumila....................................... 43
OLEACEAE........................................43, 75
ONAGRACEAE........................................ 43
O nocicea struthiopteris................................... 47
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE.................................. 43
ORCHIDACEAE....................................... 43
Osmorrhiza claytoni.................................55, 72
Osmorrhiza longistylis..................................55
OSMUNDACEAE................................44, 70
Osmunda cinnamomea................................... 70
Osmunda regalis........................................ 44
OXALIDACEAE....................................44, 78
Oxalis acetosella........................................ 44
Oxalis corniculata....................................... 78
Panax quinqueofolium.................................... 24
Panax triflorum.. 0.. 0............ 0...0.......24




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          89
PAPAVERACEAE..................................44, 78
Pedicularis canadensis................................53, 81
Petasites palmatus....................................... 31
Phaseolus vulgaris....................................... 69
Phegopteris dryopteris................................... 47
Phlox pilosa............................................ 47
PHRYMACEAE........................................ 45
Phryma leptostachya.................................... 45
Physocarpus opulifolius.................................. 49
Picea canadensis........................................ 45
PINACEAE..................................45, 75, 78, 81
Pinus banksiana.....................................45, 75
Pinus resinosa.......................................... 46
Pinus strobus.......................................... 46
PLANTAGINACEAE................................... 46
Plantago rugelii......................................... 46
Podophyllum peltatum................................25, 62
POLEMONIACEAE.................................... 47
POLYGALACEAE..................................... 47
Polygala paucifolia...................................... 47
Polygala polygama...................................... 47
POLYGONACEAE..................................... 47
Polygonatum biflorum..................................41
Polygonum pennsylvanicum............................... 47
Polygonum sps......................................... 47
POLYPODIACEAE.................................... 47
PONTEDERJACEAE................................... 48
Pontederia cordata...................................... 48
Populus candicans....................................... 52
Potentilla sps........................................... 49
PRIMULACEAE....................................... 48
Prunella vulgaris........................................ 40
Prunus pumila.......................................... 71
Prunus serotina......................................49, 71
Prunus virginiana....................................49, 71
Psedera quinquefolia..................................... 58
Ptelea trifoliata......................................... 51
Pteris aquilina.......................................... 48
Pyrola americana........................................ 36




90           BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.     [Vol.4.
Pyrola elliptica......................................... 36
Pyrola secunda........................................36
Quercus alba.........................................36, 66
Quercus ellipsoidalis..................................... 66
Q uercus velutina........................................ 36
RANUNCULACEAL.............................48, 70, 79
Ranunculus aquatilis-capillaceus........................... 49
Ranunculus pennsylvanicus............................... 49
Ranunculus recurvatus................................... 79
RHAM NAC EAE.................................... 49, 70
Rhus typhina.....................................22, 62, 77
Ribes cynosbati......................................... 71
Robinia pseudacacia..........................40
Rosa blanda............................................ 50
ROSACEAE.....................................49, 70, 76
Rosa humilis.....................................-....... 50
RUBIACEAE.......................................... 50
Rubus allegheniensis.................................50, 71
Rubus idaeus aculeatissimus...........................50, 71
Rubus occidentalis...................................50, 71
Rubus triflorus........................................50
Rudbeckia hirta........................................ 31
Rumex sps...........................................47
RUTACEAE........................................... 51
Sagittaria arifolia....................................... 61
SALICACEAE...................................... 52, 76
Salix arnygdaloides........................-.............. 52
Salix candida........................................... 52
Salix humilis..........................................52
Salix rostrata.......................................... 52
Sambucus canadensis.................................27, 74
Sambucus racemosa...................................... 27
Sanguinaria canadensis................................44, 78
Sanicula gregaria....................................... 56
Sanicula marilandica..................................... 55
SANTALACEAE....................................... 52
SARRACENIACEAE..................................52
Sarracenia purpurea..................................... 52
SAXIFRAGACEAL............................... 53, 71, 81




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.         91
Saxif raga pennsylvanica.................................. 53
Scirpus validus........................................74
SCROPHULARIACEAE.............................53, 81
Scutellaria galericulata................................... 40
Senecio aureus.......................................... 31
Silene noctiflora......................................... 28
Sisymbrium altissimum.................................. 33
Sisymbrium officinale leiocarpum.......................... 33
Sisymbrium thalianum................................... 33
Sisyrinchium albidium................................... 38
Smilacina racemosa...................................... 41
Smilax herbacea pulverulenta.............................. 41
SOLANACEAE..................................... 54, 72
Solanum tuberosum...................................... 72
Solidago latifolia........................................ 31
Solidago serotina........................................ 31
Spatheyma foetida....................................... 23
Stachys tenuifolia aspera................................. 40
Sticta glomulerifera..................................21, 60
Taenidia integerrima..................................... 56
Taraxacum officinale..................................... 65
TAXACEAE........................................... 54
Taxus canadensis........................................ 54
Thalictrum dasycarpum.................................. 49
Thalictrum dioieum...................................... 49
Thuja occidentalis................................. 46, 76, 81
THYMELEACEAE.................................. 54, 76
Tilia americana......................................... 76
TILIACEAE........................................... 76
Trillium cernuum....................................... 41
Trillium grandiflorum.................................... 41
Tsuga canadensis................................ 46, 78
TYPHACEAE......................................... 77
Typha latifolia......................................... 77
Ulmus fulva.........................................56, 77
IJMBELLIFERAE...............................55, 72, 81
IJRTICACEAE......................................56, 77
Ujrtica gracilis.......................................... 77
U.tricularia vulgaris...................................... 40




92          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.      [Vol. 4.
Uvularia grandiflora..................................... 41
Vaccinium oxycoccus.................................... 65
Vaccinium pennsylvanicum............................... 66
VALERIANACEAB................................... 57
Valeriana edulis........................................ 57
Valeriana uliginosa...................................... 57
Verbascum thapsus...................................... 53
VERBENACEAE....................................... 58
Verbena hastata........................................ 58
Verbena urticaefolia..................................... 58
Veronica virginica....................................... 53
Viburnum acerifolium................................... 28
Viburnum lentago....................................... 63
Viburnum opulus americanus..........................28, 63
Vicia americana........................................ 40
VIOLACEAE.......................................... 58
Viola sps............................................... 58
VITACEAE...........................58, 72
Vitis cordifolia.......................................58, 72
Zanthoxylum americanum................................ 51
Zea mays.............................................. 66
Zizaiia aquatica..........................................67
BY ENGLISH NAME
ADDER'S TONGUE FAMILY.......................... 43
Alder, Hoary........................................... 26
Alder, Smooth.......................................... 26
Alder, Speckled......................................... 78
Andromeda............................................. 35
Anemone, Canada....................................... 48
Anemone, Virginia....................................... 48
Anemone, Wood......................................... 48
Angelica..................................55
Arbor-vitae...........................................46, 76
Arethusa............................................... 43
Arrowhead, Arum-leaved.................................. 61
ARUM FAMILY...................................22, 79
Ash, Black.........................................43, 75




1923]       SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          93
Ash, Prickly............................................ 51
Aster, Lowrie's.......................................... 29
Balm of Gilead.......................................... 52
Balsam Apple........................................... 33
Balsam Fir............................................. 45
Baneberry, Red......................................... 48
BARBERRY FAMILY................................25, 62
Basswood............................................... 76
BASSWOOD FAMILY.................................. 76
BAYBERRY FAMILY.................................. 42
Bean, Cranberry......................................... 69
BEAN FAMILY.....................................40, 68
Bearberry............................................... 35
Bedstraw, Fragrant.....................................51
Bedstraw, Northern...................................... 50
Beech.................................................. 36
Beech, Blue............................................ 26
BEECH FAMILY................................36, 66, 75
Beechnut............................................... 66
BELLFLOWER FAMILY................................ 27
Bellwort................................................ 41
Bergamot, Wild......................................... 39
Betony, Wood........................................53, 81
Bindweed, Hedge........................................ 31
Birch, Dwarf........................................... 26
BIRCH FAMILY..............................26, 63, 74, 78
BIRTHWORT FAMILY................................. 24
Bishop's Cap........................................... 81
Bittersweet.............................................. 63
Blackberry...........................................50, 71
Bladderwort, Common.................................... 40
BLADDERWORT FAMILY.............................. 40
Bloodroot............................................44, 78
Bluebell................................................ 27
Blueberry............................................... 66
Bluets.................................................. 51
Boneset................................................. 30
BORAGE FAMILY...................................... 80
Brake.................................................. 48




94          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.      [Vol. '4.
Buckbean............................................... 36
BUCKTHORN FAMILY..............................49, 70
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY................................ 47
Bulrush, Great.......................................... 74
Butterfly Weed.......................................... 25
Butternut.........................................38, 68, 78
Calamus................................................ 22
Carrion Flower......................................... 41
Caraway................................................ 55
Catchfly, Night-flowering.................................. 28
Catnep.................................................. 39
Cat's Foot, Lesser....................................... 29
Cat-tail................................................. 77
CAT-TAIL FAMILY.................................... 77
Cedar, White.....................................46, 76, 81
Chara.................................................. 21
Cherry, Black........................................49, 71
Cherry, Choke........................................49, 71
Cherry, Rum........................................... 4
Cherry, Sand........................................... 71
Cicely, Sweet........................................... 55
Cicely, Woolly Sweet..................................55, 72'
Clintonia, Northern...................................... 40
CLUB MOSS FAMILY.................................. 42
Club Moss, Shining...................................... 42
Cohosh, Blue........................................... 25
Colorado Root.......................................... 55
Columbine, Wild........................................ 48
Coltsfoot, Sweet......................................... 31
COMPOSITE FAMILY...........................28, 65, 80
Corn..................................................66
Cornel, Alternate-leaved................................... 80
Cornel, Silky.........................................32, 80
Cranberry............................................... 65
Cranberry, High-bush.................................28, 63
Crane's-Bill, Wild....................................... 36
Cress, Large Tooth...................................... 65
Crowfoot, Bristly........................................ 49
CROWFOOT FAMILY............................48, 70, 79




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          95
Crowfoot, Hooked....................................... 79
Crowfoot, White Water................................... 49
CRYPTOGAMS......................................21, 60
Culver's Root........................................... 53
Cynthia................................................. 80
Daisy, Ox-eye........................................... 29
Dandelion..............................................65
DOGBANE FAMILY.................................73, 79
Dogbane, Spreading...................................73, 79
Dogwood, Alternate-leaved................................. 32
DOGWOOD FAMILY................................32, 80
Dragon Root.........................................23, 79
Dutchman's Breeches..................................... 81
Elderberry, Common..................................27, 74
Elderberry, Red........................................27
Elm, Slippery........................................56, 77
Erysimum, Small........................................ 33
EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY......................... 43
Everlasting, Mouse-ear.................................... 30
Fennel.................................................. 29
Fern, Cinnamon......................................... 70
FERN, CINNAMON, FAMILY........................... 70
FERN FAMILY........................................ 47
Fern, Flowering......................................... 44
FERN, FLOWERING, FAMILY.......................... 44
Fern, Grape, Oblique..................................... 43
Fern, Grape, Virginia..................................... 43
Fern, Maidenhair........................................ 47
Fern, Oak.............................................. 47
Fern, Ostrich........................................... 47
Fern, Sweet............................................ 42
FIGWORT FAMILY................................. 53, 81
Fir, Balsam............................................45
Flag, Blue.............................................. 38
Flag, Sweet.............................................. 22
Flax, Bastard Toad....................................... 52
Flax, Toad............................................. 53
Fleabane, Daisy......................................... 29
FROG'S BIT FAMILY.................................. 37




96          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.   [Vol.4.
FUMITORY FAMILY................................ 81
FUNGI.............................................21, 60
Gem Puffballs......................................... 21
GENTIAN FAMILY.................................. 36
Gentian, Spurred....................................... 36
GERANIUM FAMILY................................ 36
Gilead, Balm of........................................ 52
Ginger, Wild......................................... 24
Ginseng.............................................. 24
Ginseng, Dwarf........................................ 24
GINSENG FAMILY................................24, 62
Goldenrod, Late....................................... 31
Goldenrod, Zigzag...................................... 31
Gold Thread.......................................... 48
Gooseberry, Prickly..................................... 71
GOO SEFOOT FAMILY............................... 28
GOURD FAMILY..................................33, 65
GRAPE FAMILY..................................... 58
Grape, Frost........................................58, 72
Grass, Blue-eyed....................................... 38
GRASS FAMILY...............................37, 66, 75
Grass, Sweet.......................................... 75
Groundnut............................................ 68
Hazelnut...........................................26, 63
HAZEL, WITCH, FAMILY............................. 37
Heal-all.............................................. 40
HEATH FAMILY..................................... 35
Hemlock...........................................46, 78
Hemlock, Ground...................................... 54
Heuchera, Rough...................................... 53
HICKORY FAMILY................................... 68
Hickory, Shellbark..................................... 68
Hoarhound, Cut-leaved Water........................... 39
HOLLY FAMILY..................................... 22
Honewort............................................. 55
Honeysuckle, American Fly.............................. 27
Honeysuckle, Bush..................................... 27
HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY......................27, 63, 74
Honeysuckle, Glaucous.................................. 27




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.          97
Hop Tree, Three-leaved................................... 51
HORSETAIL FAMILY...............................34, 75
Horsetail, Field.......................................... 75
IRIS FAMILY......................................... 38
Ivy, Ground............................................. 40
Jack-in-the-pulpit........................................ 23
Joe-pye Weed........................................... 30
J u neb er rie s............................................70
Juneberry.............................................76
Ladies' Slipper, Showy.................................... 44
Ladies' Slipper, Stemless................................... 44
Ladies' Slipper, Yellow.................................... 44
Lamb's Quarters......................................... 28
Leatherleaf............................................. 35
Leatherwood..........................................54, 76
Leek, Wild............................................. 69
Lettuce, Wild........................................... 31
Lichen.................................................. 60
LICHEN FAMILY...................................21, 60
LILY FAMILY.......................................40, 69
Lily, Turk's Cap......................................... 41
Liverleaf............................................... 48
Liverwort............................................... 21
LOBELIA FAMILY..................................... 42
Lobelia, Pale Spiked...................................... 42
Locust, Black........................................... 40
Lopseed................................................ 45
LOPSEED FAMILY.................................... 45
Lupine................................................. 40
MADDER FAMILY..................................... 50
Mandrake............................................... 25
Man-in-the-ground....................................... 33
MAPLE FAMILY...................................61, 73
Maple, Hard............................................ 61
Maple, Mountain......................................... 73
Maple, Sugar........................................... 61
Marchantia............................................... 21
MARCHANTIALES ORDER............................. 21
Marigold, Marsh......................................... 70




98          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.     [Vol. 4.
May Apple.........................................25, 62
Mayflower, Canada..................................... 41
MEZEREUM FAMILY.............................54, 76
MILFOIL, WATER, FAMILY..................:........ 37
Milfoil, Water, Spiked.................................. 37
Milkweed, Common..................................62, 74
MILKWEED FAMILY...........................25, 62, 74
Milkweed, Swamp...................................... 62
M ILKW ORT FAMILY................................47
Milkwort, Racemed..................................... 47
MINT FAMILY....................................... 39
Mint, Wild............................................ 39
Monkey Flower........................................ 53
MORNING GLORY FAMILY........................... 31
Motherwort........................................... 39
Mullen, Great......................................... 53
Musquash Root........................................ 55
MUSTARD FAMILY...............................33, 65
Mustard, Hoary.......................33
Mustard, Wormseed.................................. 33
Nannyberry........................................... 63
NETTLE FAMILY.................................56, 77
Nettle, Rough Hedge.................................... 40
Nettle, Slender........................................ 77
Nettle, Wood.......................................56, 77
Nightshade, Enchanter's................................ 43
Nightshade, Enchanter's, Lesser.......................... 43
Ninebark.............................................49
Oak. Black........................................... 36
Oak, Hill's........................................... 66
Oak, White.........................................36, 66
OLIVE FAMILY...................................43, 75
Onion, Wild.......................................... 69
ORCHID FAMILY................................... 43
Osha................................................ 55
OXALIS FAMILY.................................... 78
Paintbrush, Indian...................................... 81
Paintbrush, Sessile.................................... 53
PARSLEY FAMILY............................55, 72, 81




1923]      SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.        99
Parsnip, Cow.......................................55, 81
Partridge Berry........................................51
Pea, Veiny........................................... 40
Peppergrass, Virginia................................... 33
Peppermint........................................... 39
Persicaria, Pennsylvania................................ 47
Phanerogams......................................22, 61
Phlox, Downy......................................... 47
PHLOX FAMILY..................................... 47
Pickerel Weed........................................ 48
PICKEREL WEED FAMILY........................... 48
Pimpernel, Yellow...................................... 56
PINE FAMILY..............................45, 75, 78, 81
Pine, Ground.......................................... 42
Pine, Jack..........................................45, 75
Pine, Norway......................................... 46
Pine, White........................................... 46
PINK FAMILY....................................28
Pink, Grass........................................... 44
Pitcher Plant......................................... 52
PITCHER PLANT FAMILY............................ 52
PLANTAIN FAMILY................................. 46
Plantain, Robin's....................................... 30
Plantain, Rugel's....................................... 46
POLYPODY FAMILY................................ 47
PONDWEED FAMILY................................ 42
POPPY FAMILY...................................44, 78
POTATO FAMILY................................54, 72
Potato, Indian........................................ 72
Prickly Ash.......................................... 51
Primrose, Evening, Dwarf............................0 0* 00 0 043
PRIMROSE, EVENING FAMILY...................... 43
PRIM[ROSE FAMILY................................ 48.
Prince's Pine......................................... 35
Puccoon, Hoary....................................... 80
PUFFBALL FAMILY................................ 79,
Puffballs.......................................21, 60, 79
Puffballs, Gem......................................21, 79
Ragwort, Golden...................................... 31




100          BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.      [Vol. 4.
Raspberry, Black.....................................50, 71
Raspberry, Dwarf......................................50
Raspberry, Red......................................50, 71
Rice, Wild.............................................67
ROSE FAMILY................................. 49, 70, 76
Rose, Pasture.........................................  50
Rose, Smooth.......................................... 50
Rue, Early Meadow.....................................49
RUE FAMILY........................................51
Rue, Purple Meadow..................................... 49
RUSH FAMILY........................................ 39
Rush, Scouring......................................... 34
Rush, Wood............................................ 35
SANDALWOOD FAMILY.............................. 52
SAXIFRAGE FAMILY........................... 53, 71, 81
Saxifrage, Swamp....................................... 53
Scullcap, Hooded....................................... 40
SEDGE FAMILY...................................34, 74
Sedge, Plantain-leaved................................... 34
Shepherd's Purse........................................ 33
Skunk Cabbage......................................... 23
Snakeroot, Black.......................................55
Snakeroot, Clustered.................................... 56
S ne e zewe ed...........................................  30
Solomon's Seal......................................... 41
SORREL FAMILY..................................... 44
Sorrel, Ladies'.......................................... 78
Sorrel, Wood........................................... 44
Spikenard, False.......................................41
Spikenard, Indian....................................24, 62
Spikenard, Wild.......................................24
Spruce, White.......................................... 45
Squash............................................3 3,65
STAFF TREE FAMILY................................ 63
St. John's Wort, Dwarf....,.............................. 38
ST. JOHN'S WORT FAMILY........................... 37
Strawberry, Wild....................................49, 71
SUMAC FAMILY................................22, 62, 77
Sumac, Staghorn.................................22, 62, 77"




1923]       SMITH, ETHNOBOTANY OF THE MENOMINI.         101
Susan, Black-eyed........................................ 31
Tamarack.............................................. 45
Tea, New Jersey......................................49, 70
Tick Trefoil; Large-flowered.............................. 40
TOUCH-ME-NOT FAMILY.............................. 78
Touch-me-not, Spotted.................................... 78
Tree Lichen............................................ 21
Trillium, Large-flowered................................. 41
Trillium, Nodding....................................... 41
Twin Flower..........................................27
Valerian, Edible......................................... 57
VALERIAN FAMILY.................................57
Valerian, Swamp........................................ 57
Vervain, Blue.......................................... 58
VERVAIN FAMILY................................... 58
Vervain, White......................................... 58
Vetch, American.......................................40
Vetch, Creamy......................................... 40
Vetchling, Marsh.......................................40
Viburnum, Maple-leaved................................. 28
VINE FAMILY........................................ 58
VIOLET FAMILY..................................... 58
Virginia Creeper........................................ 58
Wake-robin, Large-flowered............................... 41
Wake-robin, Nodding...................................41
WALNUT FAMILY.................................38, 78
WATERLEAF FAMILY............................. 37, 68
Waterleaf, Virginia...................................37, 68
WATER LILY FAMILY............................42, 69
Water Lily, Sweet White.................................. 42
Water Lily, Tuberous..................................... 42
Water Lily, Yellow..................................42, 69
WATER MILFOIL FAMILY............................ 37
WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY.......................... 61
Water Shield........................................... 42
Water Weed........................................... 37
Wheat, Cow........................................... 53
Willow, Beaked......................................... 52
Willow, Dwarf......................................... 52




102         BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.      [Vol. 4.
WILLOW     FAMILY.................................52, 76
Willow Herb, Great...................................... 43
Willow, Hoary.......................................... 52
Willow, Peach-leaved.................................... 52
Winterberry............................................. 22
Wintergreen............................................ 35
Wintergreen, Flowering.................................. 47
Wintergreen, One-flowered................................ 35
Witch-hazel............................................ 37
WITCH-HAZEL FAMILY.............................. 37
Wormwood, Biennial.................................... 29
Wormwood, Canada..................................... 29
YAM FAMILY.o........................................ 34
Yam-root, Wild.......................................... 34
Yarrow................................................ 28
Yew, American......................................... 54
YEW   FAMILY........................................ 54







1,EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
John Valentine Satterlee. See page 8.

104




'1   Id   1   Il>.                                                           1\!  I l   x.1 I\  ""H I.II  I  I  i1[










EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.

Figure 1. Keshena, Shawano County, Wisconsin, from north hill,
showing State Highway 47. See page 10.
Figure 2. Typical Menomini family at Crow Settlement near West
Branch of Wolf River, Menomini Reservation. William
Satterlee and wife, nephews, brother John V. Satterlec
and uncle Jim Blackcloud. See page 12.

106




111' 1,L., 1I1'131.. NII'S., Ml 1W~.

VOL. 4, PI.. II.

'I










EXPLANATION OF PLATE III.

Figure 1. Clay-sand forest in lake region of Menomini Reservation.
Certain types of medicines are only found here. See
page 11.
Figure 2. Deciduous forest, river bottom soil near Wolf River, where
an entirely different type of medicines is found. See
page 11.

108




1t 1I  I 'l.. \IIS..  I I\V.

V ()1.. 4, 1'I.. II [.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV.

Figure 1. Wisho'nakwit, Menomini medicine man, at his home near
Keshena. See page 13.
Figure 2. Louise Amor, Menomini medicine woman, in her tribal
dress with applique embroidery on broadcloth. See
page 13.

110




II-uI.rr;I.  B. M I's., \IJXV.

VOL. 4, PL.. I V.

e      ry>




--r
l







EXPLANATION OF PLATE V.

Figure 1. Keshena Falls of the Wolf River, a mile north of Keshena.
The source of hydro-electric power for the reservation.
See page 10.
Figure 2. Lake La Mote, one of the small chain of lakes in the southeastern portion of the reservation. See page 11.

112




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EXPLANATION OF PLATE VI.

Figure 1. Menomini sawmill at Neopit, Wisconsin. An industrial
mill for the Menomini. See page 11.
Figure 2. Forest nursery of white and Austrian pine, Neopit Operation Farm, near Keshena. See page 12.
Figure 3. Pagan cemetery, near Keshena, where Chief Oshkosh is
buried. See page 12.
Figure 4. The Menomini Spirit Rock on old Military Road, from
Keshena Falls to Oconto. See page 19.

114




n.
M  rR         '\
t
x

r
I










EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII.

Figure 1. White Oak (Quercus alba L.). Source of medicine and
wood. See pages 36 and 66.
Figure 2. Hard Maple (Acer sacchlarum Marsh.). Source of maple
sugar. See page 61.
Figure 3. Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva Mx.). Source of medicine and
fiber. See pages 56 and 77.
Figure 4. Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.). Source of medicine and
dye. See pages 38, 68 and 78.

116




1, *.I 8 1I II..  ail'.,  NI  I  NV

\I.,P.  I

'',
3;  r










EXPLANATION OF PLATE VIII.

Figure 1. Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana Mill.). Source of medi
cine and food. See pages 49 and 71.
Figure 2. Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carr.). Source of medicine,
dye and tanning material. See pages 46 and 78.
Figure 3. Arbor-vitae or White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.).
Source of fiber and medicine. See pages L!6, 76 and 81.
Figure 4. State Highway 47 on Moccasin Hill near Neopit, I1lt
nomini Reservation. See page 10.

118




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'All
ALLa.
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EXPLANATION OF PLATE IX.

Figure 1. Shellbark Hickory (Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch). Source
of food and wood. See page 68.
Figure 2. Beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.). Source of medicine.
food and wood. See page 36.
Figure 3. Black Ash (Fraxiinus nigra Marsh.). Source of mediciwc
and wood. See pages 43 and 75.
Figure 4. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus lyphina L.). Source of bevCerage
and medicine. See pages 22, 62 and 77.

120




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EXPLANATION OF PLATE X.

Figure 1. Tree Lichen (Sticta glomulerifera). Source of food and
medicine. See pages 21 and 60.
Figure 2. Dragon Root (Arisaemnia dracontium (L.) Schott). Source
of medicine. See pages 23 and 79.
Figure 3. Skunk Cabbage (Spatheyma foetida (L.) Nutt.). Source
of medicine. See page 23.
Figure 4. Gem Puffballs (Lycoperdon pyriforme Schaeff.). Source
of medicine and sorcery. See pages 21, 60 and 79.

122




MAL. IL.IMI's.,INIII AN.

VOL. 4, PI,. X.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XI.
Figure 1. Field Horsetail (Equisetumn hyemale L.).    Source of
medicine and scouring material. See pages 34 and 75.
Figure 2. Mouse-ear Everlasting (Gnaphalium polycephalunt Mx.).
Source of medicine. See page 30.
Figure 3. Joe-pye Weed (Eupatorium purpurcium L.). Source of
medicine. See page 30.
Figure 4. Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale L.). Source of medicine. See page 30.

124




C:
y
1:
i










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XII.
Figure 1. Modern Menomini house in the Crow Settlement. See
page 73.
Figure 2. Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium albidium Raf.). Source
of medicine and sorcery. See page 38.
Figure 3. Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.).
A Menbmini love-charm. See page 81.
Figure 4. Basswood (Tilia americana L.).     Chief fiber plant of
the Menomini. See page 76.

126




131 'I - 1 I 1;.  l  S4  I. V

V j 4,1 ' I_.\

A. p










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIII.

Figure 1. Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora Sm.).    Source of a
Menomini medicine. See page 41.
Figure 2. Large-flowered Trillium (T. grandiflorum (Mx.) Salish.).
Source of various medicines. See page 41.
Figure 3. Tamarack (Larix larcina (DuRoi) Koch). Source of
medicines. See page 45.
Figure 4. Stemless Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium   acaule,it.).
Source of medicine. See page 44.

128




BLLT., PI'BL. MIUS., MtILWv.

VOL. 4, PT.. XiiI.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV.
Figure 1. Lady's Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata L.). Source of a yellow
dyestuff. See page 78.
Figure 2. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.). Source of medicine and dye. See pages 44 and 78.
Figure 3. Northern Clintonia (C. borealis (Ait.) Raf.) with which
dog poisons his teeth. See page 40.
Figure 4. Pasture Rose (Rosa humnilis Marsh.). Source of medicine.
See page 50.

130




11111., PII L. 'S.. M1IANV.

V(l).4.1-..XIV.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XV.

Figure 1. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa L.). Source of various remedies. See page 25.
Figure 2. May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum L.). Source of potato
bug poison. See pages 25 and 62.
Figure 3. Indian Spikenard (Aralia racemosa L.). Source of medicine and food. See pages 24 and 62.
Figure 4. Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum  (L.) Schott.).
Source of medicine. See page 23.

132




li~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~'i,I,I  ll 11(8.1.

ol...1. I'IL. \V.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVI.

Figure 1. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.). Source of medicine.
See page 28.
Figure 2. Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.). Source
of purgative medicine. See pages 27 and 74.
Figure 3. Hazelnut (Corylus americana Walt.). Source of medicine,
fiber and food. See pages 26 and 63.
Figure 4. Maple-leaved Viburnum (V. acerifolium L.). Source of
medicine. See page 28.

134




It
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;
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EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVII.
Figure 1. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago L.). Source of food. See
page 63.
Figure 2. High-bush   Cranberry   (Viburnum   opulus  americanus
(Mill.) Ait.). Source of food and medicine. See pages
28 and 63.
Figure 3. Yellow Pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima (L.) Drude).
Source of medicine. See page 56.
Figure 4. Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata L.). Source of medicine.
See page 58.

136




BVP. BL. '111S., MIJ.AV.

\L. 4, 1I.. XVII.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVIII.

Figure 1. Alternate-leaved  C o  1 e1 (Cornus alternifolia L.f.).
Source of medicine and tobacco. See page 80.
Figure 2. Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum L.). Source
of medicine. See page 33.
Figure 3. Joe-pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum L.) and Boneset
(Eu. perfoliatum L.). Sources of medicines. See page
30.
Figure 4. Silky Cornel (Cornus amnomum Mill.). Source of medicine and tobacco. See pages 32 and 80.

138




I' l '. 1 L I..  Mlls.,  MI W AV.             V  L.I.   V!I




I







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIX.
Figure 1. Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchiium albidium Raf.). Source of
charm and medicine. See page 38.
Figure 2. Wild Crane's Bill (Geranium maculatum L.). Source of
medicine. See page 36.
Figure 3. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.). Source of medicine. See page 39.
Figure 4. Catnep (Nepeta cataria L.). Source of medicine. See
page 39.

140




iI,l"I... I  Ml' Jtts., AT  1 AV.

VOL. 4. PI,. X IX.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XX.

Figure 1. Prince's Pine (Chirnapila umbellata (L.) Nutt.). The
smaller specimen is the source of a medicine. See page
35. The Pyrola shown is not used.
Figure 2. Witch-hazel (Hanmamelis virginiana L.). Source of rubbing oil, and magic seeds. See page 37.
Figure 3. Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis canadensis (L.) Briquet).
Source of medicine. See page 39.
Figure 4. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). See page 39.

142




BULL., PUBL. MUS., MIL\.

VOIl,. 4. I'1l. XX\.

Y
i
P..










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXI.

Figure 1. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus amnericanus L.). Source of
beverage and medicine. See pages 49 and 70.
Figure 2. Liverleaf (Hepatica acutiloba D.C.). Source of medicine.
See page 48.
Figure 3. White Pine (Pinus strobus L.). Source of medicine, wood
and pitch. See page 46.
Figure 4. White Spruce (Picea canadensis (Mill.) B. S. P.). Source
of medicines. See page 45.

144













EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXII.
Figure 1. Lupines (Lupinus perennis L.). Source of horse medicine.
See page 40.
Figure 2. Showy Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium   hirsutum  Mill.).
Source of medicine. See page 44.

146




BULIL., PUBL. MUTS., MIL\'.

VO L. 4, P1.. XI I.




a
i







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIII.

Figure 1. Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati L.). Source of food.
See page 71.
Figure 2. Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylumn americanumn Mill.). Source
of medicines. See page 51.
Figure 3. Black or Rum Cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.). Source
of beverage and medicine. See pages 49 and 71.
Figure 4. Swamp Saxifrage (Saxifraga pennsylvanica L.). Source
of medicine. See page 53.

148




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"







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIV.

Figure 1. Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum Mx.). A sorcerers'
medicine and hunting charm.  See pages 55 and 81.
Figure 2. Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea L.). Source of medicine. See page 55.
Figure 3. Edible Valerian (Valeriana edulis Nutt.).  Source of
medicines. See page 57.
Figure 4. Great Mullen (Verbascumn thapsus L.). Source of medicine. See page 53.

150




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EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXV.

Figure 1. Culver's Root (Veronica virginica L.). Source of medicine and mystic medicine. See page 53.
Figure 2. Fragrant Bedstraw (Galium triflorumn Mx.). Source of
medicine. See page 51.
Figure 3. Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus aculeatissimus (C. A. Mey)
Regel & Tiling). A seasoner of medicines and a source
of food. See pages 50 and 71.
Figure 4. Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter).   Source of
medicine and food. See pages 50 and 71.

152




BlL~., PlIBL. Mits., Mil LW.

VOL. 4,.1'1.. \\V.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVI.

Figure 1. Menomnini Squashes (Cucurbita pepo Var.). The kind
dried in slices for winter use. See pages 33 and 65.
Figure 2. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.). A Menomini
food. See pages 62 and 74.

154




13'lL., PU'BL. MUS., M1ILW'.

VOL. 4, 1'I.. XXVI.










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVII.
Figure 1. Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea L.). Source of
medicine and food. See page 70.
Figure 2. A lake border with wild rice (Zizania aquatica L.). See
page 67.

156




BULL., PLBL,. MLS., MILW~.                                             VO)L. 4.,PL,. XXVII.

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EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVIII.
Figure 1. Blueberries (Vaccinium pennsylvanicum Lam.). A favorite food of the Menomini. See page 66.
Figure 2. Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides L.). Source of
medicine. See page 25.
Figure 3. A wild rice gatherer's camp. See page 67.
Figure  4. Three-leaved Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata L.). A sacred
medicine. See page 51.

158




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EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIX.
Figure 1. Threshing wild rice (Zizania aquatica L.). See page 67.
Figure 2. Winnowing wild rice. See page 68.
Figure 3. Groundnut (Apios tuberosa Moench.). Menomini will
white potato vine. See page 68.
Figure 4. Drying beans Menomini fashion. See page 69.

160




IWO










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXX.
Figure 1. A single root of Groundnut (Apios tuberosa Moench.). See
page 69.
Figure 2. A branch of Juneberries (Amrnelanchier huronensis Wieganid). See page 76.

162




131 LL,., PlIBL. MIS., MI lAV.

1P1..X X X.._,,,..._._                            _:_

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p







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXI.
Figure 1. Dandelion (Taraxacum oficinale Weber). A Menomini
food. See page 65.
Figure 2. Rugel's Plantain (Plantago rugelii Dcne.). Source of
medicine. See page 46.
Figure 3. Arum-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria arifolia Nutt.). Mcnomini white potato. See page 61.
Figure 4. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.). Source of a beverage
and medicine. See pages 22, 62 and 77.

164




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'/




v







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXII.
Figure 1. Wild Onion (Allium canadense Roth). A Menomini food.
See page 69.
Figure 2. Menomini cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum*). A
variety always cultivated by the Menomini, the origin
not known. See page 72.
Figure 3. Yellow Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum pubescens (Willd.) Knight).   Source of medicine.  See
page 44.
Figure 4. Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum Ait.). A Menomini food.
See page 69.

166




I3 [,', I. PUBB1L. NiS., NMIL1WN.

V O L..4, E'1..\ \ \X[IT,,!'




/







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXIII.

Figure 1. Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum L.). A
Menomini leaf food. See pages 37 and 68.
Figure 2. XWild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana Duchesne). AX Alenomini berry food. See pages 49 and 71.
Figure 3. Woolly Sweet Cicely (Osmorrhiza claytoni (Mx.) Clarke).
A food and medicine. See pages 55 and 72.
Figure 4. Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris L.). Menomini spring
greens. See page 70.

168




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3







EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXIV.

Figure 1. Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis L.). An evil charm
of the Menomini. See pages 53 and 81.
Figure 2. Acorns of various species used as food by the Menomini.
See page 66.
Figure 3. Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens L.). A Menomini bark
food. See page 63.
Figure 4. Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.). A
Menomini love charm. See page 81.

170




BULL., PUTBL. MI'S., MILW.

Vol).. )4, PT.. XXX TX'










EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXV.
Figure 1. Bishop's Cap (Mitella diphylla L.). A sacred bead seed.
See page 81.
Figure 2. Slender Nettle (Urtica gracilis Ait.). A Menomini fiber
plant. See page 77.
Figure 3. Cat-tail (Typha latifolia: L.). A Menomini fiber plant.
See page 77.
Figure 4. Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum     androsaemifolium  L.).
Menomini thread material. See pages 73 and 79.

172




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EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXVI.
Figure 1. Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens biflora Walt.). A Mcnomini dye plant. See page 77.
Figure 2. Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermumn canescens (Mx.) Lehm.).
Source of a sacred bead. See page 80.
Figure 3. Menomini girls gathering Indian Paintbrush for Decoration Day, 1922. See page 81.
Figure 4. Cynthia (Krigia amplcxicaulis Nutt.). A Menomini hunting charm. See page 80.

174




B3UL.,PUEL, MUS., MT LW,

VOL,. 4. PL. NXXVI.













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