6 



WATER PLANTS, FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES 



the Indians sliced them and strung them up for winter use, calling 

 them Wapato. The Chinese in California used the tubers roasted 

 or boiled. Large tubers, 2 inches in diameter, contain a milky juice 

 when raw that is quite unpleasant, but very sweet when roasted. In 

 England corms are ground fine and yield a flour that can be used 

 in making cookies, muffins or puddings. 



W-5. WATERCRESS, Nas- 

 turtium officinale ; Mustard 

 Fam. The prostrate or ascend- 

 ing stems grow from wet places 

 or in water; small white flow- 

 ers in racemes. Naturalized 

 from Europe, 

 Most states Xenophon recommended it to 

 w. Can. thg Persians to make children 

 strong and it was much prized 

 by the Moslems. Romans con- 

 sidered it excellent food for 

 people with deranged minds. 



Parkinson in 1640 says, 

 "Leaves or juice applied to the 

 freckles, pimples, spots or the 

 the morning. The juice mixed wi 



Water 

 Marsh 



Water 

 Marsh 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



face or other parts troubled with 

 like, at night and washed away in 

 th vinegar to the forehead is good 

 for lethargy or drowsy feelingi' 

 Coronado found it near the 

 Gila River in Arizona and in 1769 

 Padre Crespi speaks of it. In 

 1806 Lewis and Clark found it in 

 Oregon. Indians used the plant 

 for liver and kidney trouble and 

 to dissolve gallstones. It is now 

 commonly used for salads and to 

 garnish other dishes. 



W-6. INDIAN POND LILY or 

 YELLOW WATER LILY, Nuphar 

 polysepalum ; Water-lily Fam. 

 Large leaves rise from thick 

 rootstock. Rootstocks baked ; 

 seeds for bread and soups. 



