|
Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation
An Ethonobotanical Report
Andropogon gerardii This plant has American Indian names!Desription The grass grows to 5-7 ft. in height, but can get up to 10 ft. tall. It has blue color at the base of the stems; the leaves are blue-green in early summer. It develops reddish tinges as it matures. It produces terminal 3 in. bronze purplish seed heads that stand above the foliage. The flower stalk has 3 finger like braches that look like a turkey¢â¡Ás foot. The grass is perennial, and it¢â¡Ás a native grass. The grass starts to flower during August through October
Location and Habitat The Big Bluestem grows south to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico to northern Florida. This plant could be found north of the cemetery, southeast side of highway 75. The grass grows in prairies and open woods; it grows well in dry and humid climates. I would expect to find this grass in the woods somewhere. Uses The Chippewa, Omaha, and the Ponca used this plant. The Chippewa used this plant to get rid of stomach pains, and a simple of compound decoction of root taken as a diuretic. The Omaha¢â¡Ás used it for a wash for fevers, and used the grass to wipe on the poles to support earth coverings of lodges. The Ponca¢â¡Ás also used it for support for the poles for their lodges.
This Page was last update: Friday, December 14, 2007 at 8:42:07 AM This site is using the Wood Grain 1.0 theme. |
|
|||||||||
