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Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation
An Ethonobotanical Report
Typha Latifolia Native American Names The Omaha name for cattail is "wahab igaskonthe." I dont know what it means, there was no translation stated. Other Native American names are "Wihuta-Hu" (Dakota) In translation it means the Bottom of the tipi" In Winnebago it is said "Ksho-hi" ksho meaning prairie chicken, hi meaning feather. The plucked down resembles in color and texture the finer feathers of the prairie chicken. In Pawnee it's "Kirit tacharush" meaning eye itch. Description To me the Cattail looks like a Native Drum stick that is used at pow wow's. The cattail is a tall stiff plant that almost can grow ten feet in height. The leaves look like giant blades of grass about one inch wide. The flower has two parts to it: a brown cilinder, (female part) and a yellow spike (male part.) It is a parennial plant and has grass like leaves. It flowers from May to July. In early fall, the brown flower head pops open letting the fluffy seeds out that get carried by the wind or by water to different places. Location and habitat The cattail is found in some of Nebraska. It grows in dense stangnent water, marshes, swamps, roadsides, ditches, ponds, and stream banks. On the Reservation it grows in ditches, streams, and ponds. we found it by the pow wow grounds were a stream was located. Uses The pollen is abundant and starchy and has been used as a flour substitute. Native Americans used the leaves to weave baskets, chair seats, and mats. The fluffy down was used as a filling for pillows and padding for craddle boards and in quilting baby wrappings. Many different types of birds and small mammals use the down to line their nest.
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