Ethnobotany of the Meskwaki Indians / by Huron H. Smith.

224

BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE.

[Vol. 4

IRIDACEAE (IRIS FAMILY)
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor L.), "apakwakii'shikeki" and "pfikwo'kii'sikiki" [both meaning like a cattail] (M), "senipa'sowfin" (P P).
Shown in plate XL, fig. 2. The root of the blue flag is used for colds
and for lung trouble. The freshly macerated root is used as a poultice
for burns and sores. The fresh iris root is known by the white man
to be quite acrid and would produce nausea, vomiting and colicky pains,
but dried, it is less painful and is used by him as an emetic, diuretic
and cathartic.
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium campestre Bicknell),30 "makiskiwe'" (M), "maskosfi'k" (P P). This plant is boiled whole to make
a tea to cure hay fever, "matciski'n."
Specimen 5125 of the Dr. Jones collection is a plant of Sisyrinchium
campestre called "maciskiwaa," and used for cramps.
Specimen 5092 of the Dr. Jones collection is a mixture containing
the base of Sisyrinchium campestre, wood of Acer saccharum, the stem
of Angelica atropurpurea, bark of Pyrus ioensis, root of Polygonum
muhlenbergii, and rind of Apocynum androsaemifolium. It was not
given any Indian name, except "medicine." The mixture is boiled and
made into a drink to be used by a woman with an injured womb. It is
not known to be used by the white man.
JUGLANDACEAE (WALNUT FAMILY)
Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch),
"kikieta'ant" (M) "tfikwa'pfik" (P P). The bark tea of this species
yields a beverage for simple sicknesses. It makes the bowels loose
and the urine free. There is no recorded use by the white man.
Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.).31 Specimen 5090 of the Dr. Jones
collection is the twig bark of Juglans cinerea, called "pagana'kwi." It
is boiled and drunk as a cathartic. Specimen 5131 is the wood and
bark of Juglans cinerea called "kanocicia" which seems to be a contraction of "pagana'kwi," though the latter part means "like." This
is also boiled and drunk as a cathartic.
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.), "pakan" (plural "paka'nani")
boPresent series, Vol. IV, pt. 1, pl. XII, fig. 2.
1Present series, Vol. IV, pt. 1, pl. VII, fig. 4.