Mentha arvensis

American Indian names

            There are a few names for this plant that I have found. The Omaha name for field mint is ¡pezhe nubthon.  The Cheyennes have two names they are mahpe, moxe¡Ùshene which means watermint and ¡ he heyuts, tsihiss,ots which means vomiting medicine. The Lakotas also have two Indian names ¡cejake or sejake and ¡can pezuta cikala which means little wound medicine. The Blackfeet name is ¡sax ika-kitsim which means quick smell. The Gros Ventre name is ¡wassowahaan no meaning given. And the Arapho  name is paquanah¡ no meaning given.

Description             Field mint has tiny clusters of tiny white to violet bell shaped flowers that are gathered in leaf axils that are downy and there is an unbranched hairy stem. The leafs are fragrant ovale with serrated edges that can grow from anywhere from 2-12cm long, and 1-4cm wide. It is Perennial, it is a native forb. Field mint usually flowers from July-September. The leaves look like blades simple, lanceolate toelluiplic  or ovate tips sharply or gradually pointed. They produce though rhizomes and seeds.

            Field mint is found throughout Nebraska in exposed or shaded sites in wet soil of creek banks, lake and pond, margins, marshes, ditches, rangeland, and wetlands. In Macy Nebraska it is found near the pow-wow grounds, and river straight east of Macy.

"field mint 1"

Uses             Native Americans used Field Mint to make a beverage and for medical purposes. A tea was made from the leaves and flowers and consumed to break fevers, relief gas, and treat pleurisy. A poulitice was applied to the chest for a pneumonia. Tea was made from the roots for headaches, and leaves were chewed to relief stomach.             Yes Mint is still used today Miss Klein uses it to make mint lemonade. Some still use it for tea and other beverages. You can steep it into hot water or dry the leaves. When I eat gym or other types of candy it usually has some kind of mint flavor. Mint is a very popular flavor it is used to make a lot of deserts and other eatable things. Mint oil can be used to rebel bugs, It also flavors toothpaste             Mint has a lot to do in the kitchen as well it may be an key ingredients to food and drinks. It can spice up vegetables, mint tea, dressing, and spice up tuna. Peppermint makes an excellent flavor for ice cream, chocolates, and other desserts.      Recipe for Mint Julep Cocktail -Fresh mint, 1 tablespoon fine sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and 2floz (5.7cl bourbon whiskey. Place 4-5 leaves of mint in a highball glass. Crush the mint sugar and water together until the sugar is dissolved and the flavor of mint extracts. Add the bourbon and fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir until the outside of the glass is frosted. Decorate with a spring of mint. Serve with straws

                                                                                    By Brianna Wolfe

This Page was last update: Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:18:42 AM
This page was originally posted: 11/28/07; 11:12:29 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

This site is using the Wood Grain 1.0 theme.