64 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



Besides sugar being obtained from the sugar tree, many things are made 

 from the hard -vvood of this tree. One of these is the bowl used in the dice 

 bowl game. This is a large, rather shallow, symmetrical, nicely finished, hem- 

 ispherical bowl. It is made from a large, round nodule of maple root, and is 

 consequently a rare and expensive article for its size. It is fashioned solely 

 with the aid of an ax and a knife. A specimen at hand measures nine inches 

 in diameter at the top and is two inches in depth. It is nearly one inch in 

 thickness at the bottom, but gradually tapers to about one-fourth of an inch 

 at the rim. 



ANACARDIACEAE. CASHEW FAMILY, 

 Genus Rhus, L. Sumach. 

 Rhus glabra, L. Dwarf Sumach. 

 Rhus copallina, L. Dwarf Sumach. 

 Rhus canadensis. Marsh. 

 Rhus aromatica. Ait. 



The Sumach is a very common shrub throughout the region. Its bark and 

 berries are much used in the medicine ceremonies of the aborigines. 

 Poly gala senega, L. Seneca Sankeroot. It is used as a medicine.* 

 *0f the family Polygalaceae; Milkwort Family. 



LEGUMINOSAE. PULSE FAMILY. 

 Genus Baptisia, Vent. False Indigo. 

 Baptisia tinctoKa, R. B. Wild Indigo. Very common. This plant was 

 used much in native coloring and as medicine. 



Genus Lathyrus, Tourn. Vetching. Everlasting Pea. 

 Lathyrus ochroleucus. Hook. Quite common. 

 Lathyrus palustris, L. (?) 



ROSACEAE. ROSE FAMILY. 

 Genus Prunus, Tourn. Plum, Cherry, Etc. 



Prunus americana, Marshall. Wild Yellow or Red Plum. 



Prunus pennsylvanica, L. f. Var. Nettlakea. Pin Cherry. Very common. 



Prunus virginiana, L. Choke Cherry. 



Prunus serotina, Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry. 



Prunus demissa, Walp. 



The plums and cherries above are very plentiful in the Bois Fort region 

 and are quite extensively used as food. The fruit is eaten fresh and also dried 

 for winter use. When needed for use after being dried, the berry, seed and 

 all, are often crushed and ground up and the whole used as a sort of floui 

 in making soups. 



Genus Rubus, Tourn. Bramble. 



Rubus strigosus, Michx. Wild Red Raspberry. A very abundant plant. 

 Its fruit is extensively used by the natives as a food. The fruit is both eaten 

 fresh and dried for winter use. 



Genus Fragaria, Tourn. Strawberry. 



Fragaria virginiana illinoensis. Gray. Seen near Flat Rock. Strawberries 

 are much used as food bty the Indians. 



Genus Rosa, Tourn. Rose. 



Rosa sayi, Schwein. (?) 



Rosa lucida, L. Clommon. The buds are occasionally eaten. The root 

 and bark are also sometimes used as medicine. 



Genus Pyrus, L. Pear. Apple. 

 Pyrus coronaria, L. American Crab-apple. Quite common. 

 Pyrus americana, D. C. American Mountain Ash.* 

 Pyrus sambucifolia, Cham. & Schlecht. Occasionally seen. 

 •When steamed the ash is bent into any form desired by the Ojibwa. 



Genus Crataegus, L. Hawthorn. White Thorn. 

 Crataegus coccinea, L. Quite common. 



