96 PLANTS USED IIY THE KLAMATH INDIANS. 



shaped, shining seeds are gathered at maturity, in late summer, and 

 after the customary roasting and grinding are used tor food. It is of 

 interest to note that a species of the same genus, Chenopodium quinoa, 

 has for centuries constituted the chief farinaceous food of the inhab- 

 itants of the high plateau of Bolivia and Peru and has now become a 

 cultivated plant. 



AMARANTACEAE. 



Amarantus blitoides Wats. 



Ba-lo'-och.—A small amaranth, probably of this species, occurring as 

 a weed in cultivated grounds or waste places. The black shining 

 lens-shaped seeds, about 1 mm. (one twenty-fifth of an inch) in 

 diameter, are sometimes used for food. 



NYMPHAEACEAE. 



Nympliaea polysepala (Eugelm.) (ireene. 



Wo'-kas. — The great yellow water lily, occurring at Woe us Bay and 

 a few other places on Klamath Lake, and in endless amount in Klamath 

 Marsh. The large mucilaginous seed pods are gathered in boats, the 

 seeds extracted after some process of drying (he pods, and then stored 

 for use during the year. The common method of preparing the seeds 

 for use is to roast them either in an open basket with live coals, or 

 more commonly in recent years in an iron frying pan over a lire. When 

 treated thus the seeds swell and crack their coats much after the man- 

 ner of parched corn. The roasted seeds are commonly eaten dry with- 

 out further preparation, tasting very much like popcorn, but sometimes 

 they are ground into meal and made into a porridge or a bread. 



This is probably the most important farinaceous food of the Klamath?. 

 They gather enormous quantities of it during the months of July and 

 August, nearly all the old women of the tribe going to the marsh for 

 the purpose. It is such a, favorite food with the tribe that its use is 

 likely never to be wholly given up". 



BERBERIDACEAE. 



Berberis repeiis Lindl. 



Ba-ba'-o-siim. — The most widely distributed species of Oregon grape, 

 a small, low shrub of the yellow-pine forests, seldom more than 15 cm. 

 (0 inches) high, with holly-like evergreen leaves and clusters of small, 

 grape-like, sour, blue berries, these known by the name ga'-o ga'-osam. 

 The berry is said not to be eaten by the Klamaths, nor could I learn of 

 any use, medicinal or other, to which the plant is put. 



BRASSICACEAE. 



Sisymbrium incisum Engelui. 



Chep'-as. — A slender, branching annual, commonly 25 to 50 cm. (10 

 to 20 inches) high, with pinuatind, canescent leaves, yellow flowers, 



