344 PLANTS USED BY INDIANS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CAL. 
Many individual trees of this species, apparently diseased forms, are 
very abundantly covered with large galls, usually a couple of inches 
in diameter, which are called fié-hut’ by the Yukis. In July and 
August, when they are still green, these are nearly solid, the interior 
having the consistency of a rather juicy, ripe pear. The juice, which 
may be readily squeezed out of them, is light green in color and is 
certainly very rich in gallo-tannic acid. It is used to a considerable 
extent in medicine and for ink, as mentioned below. The galls remain 
adhering to the tree indefinitely, but change in color from light green 
to black, and in texture from a fleshy to a light pithy interior, which 
is surrounded by a woody exterior. The abundance of the galls and 
their apparently large content of gallo-tannic acid would seem to indi- 
‘ate that they might be used very considerably as a substitute for 
the Turkish galls (from Quercus /nfectoria), which are most widely 
esteemed in commerce. 
The Indians have been taught to make ink from the juice of the 
fresh galls by allowing it to remain in contact with rusty iron, and one 
old Indian told me that by simply dipping an old steel pen into the 
gall one could write freely. The experiment was tried by myself with 
very satisfactory results, several hundred words having been written, 
The color produced was nearly as black as that produced by ordinary 
ink and proved to be permanent after a year. The Redwoods, Con- 
cows, und Numlakis all value the fresh galls as a remedy for sore 
eyes, when diluted and used as a wash, 
MORACEAE. Mulberry Family. 
Humulus lupulus L. 
No Indian name was learned for the common hop vine. — It is culti- 
vated very extensively near Ukiah and has escaped from cultivation to 
a slight extent both at that place and at Round Valley, where it was 
formerly grown under Government supervision. The hops are soaked 
in warm water and applied as a poultice for swellings or bruises. 
LORANTHACEAE. Mistletoe Family. 
Phoradendron flavescens Nutt. 
Txt mé-dr'-she (Little Lake).—The common mistletoe, which is para- 
sitic on trees, chiefly on the oaks of the region, it being so abundant 
on some trees that they are actually killed by the growth. It is 
asserted by the Indians that it also grows on the buckeye (Aesculus) 
and that its leaves, which are of a glutinous character, are then par- 
ticularly valuable in medicine. They are chewed ‘‘all day long” to 
relieve toothache, and a tea is made of them to produce abortion. Those 
from certain trees are regarded as poisonous both to man and to cattle. 
