348 PLANTS USED BY INDIANS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CAL. 
Thalictrum polycarpum Wats. 
Hol'-gd-shén" (Yuki).—The common aromatic meadow rue of the 
region, a plant 3 to + feet high with finely divided leaves and incon- 
spicuous staminate or pistillate flowers. The name means ‘ coyote 
angelica” and the same translation holds good for the Yokia name 
ewe bieh-o'-a. Other tribal names mean substantially the same 
thing. An instance of the accidental poisoning of a white child by 
eating the stem by mistake for that of angelica was cited by one Indian. 
Angelica root is the universal charm and panacea of the Indian, and 
the coyote symbolizes their ideal of cunning. They have an idea 
that the coyote is able to eat the meadow rue with impunity, and 
since it is aromatic like angelica, they call it coyote angelica to dis- 
tinguish it from the true article. The symptoms of poisoning in 
the case above mentioned, as described by my informant, were the 
same as for strychnine. If, however, the poison is analogous to that 
isolated from a European species (72 aacrocarpum), the symptoms 
should be more like those of aconite; but all are somewhat alike in 
action. The Wailakis have a supersition to the effect that this plant is 
sapable of making dead Indians have bad dreams if it is allowed to grow 
on their graves. When, therefore, their living friends feel their con- 
science troubled, they go out to the grave, and, if they find the plant 
growing there, they dig it up, and, as a sort of propitiation for their 
neglect, wash their heads with the juice from the crushed stems and 
leaves. It is also used in this way to cure headache. The Wailaki 
name for the plant is ch/n-dun"-ga'-chit, the Little Lake we’ shi-shdi'. 
BERBERIDACEAE. Barberry Family. 
Berberis repens Lindl. 
No Indian name was learned for the Oregon grape or creeping bar- 
berry, a low shrub with holly-like pinnate leaves and short clusters of 
small, sour blue berries, which is common in bleak, rocky hillsides. 
The yellow root bark is gathered in large quantity and used in the 
form of x decoction for the cure of stomach troubles and as a blood 
purifier. 
BUTNERIACEAE. Strawberry Shrub Family. 
Butneria occidentalis (Hook, & Arn.) Greene. 
Si hi-la' (Pomo). —The western spice bush or calycanthus, a beau- 
tiful shrub with large opposite leaves and solitary velvety-red flowers. 
It is fairly common in shaded ravines throughout the region. The 
bark, leaves, and flowers are delightfully aromatic, especially when 
crushed, and the flower retains its fragrance a half day or so after 
wilting. The bark is peppery as well as aromatic, and the leaf. is 
