gg XJSES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS [eth. an.n. 33 



POACEAE 



Spartina michauxiana Hitchc. Slough Grass. 



Sidti-ki (Oniaha-Ponca). 



This plant, which grows in all the swales of eastern Nebraska, 

 was iist'd as thatching to support the earth covering of the lodges in 

 the permanent villages. 



Savastana ODORATA (L.) Scribn. Sweet Grass. 



Wachanfia (Dakota.) 



I'czhe. zonista (Oniaha-Ponca). 



Manuska (Winnebago). 



Kataaru (l*awnee). 



Sweet grass is found in northeastern Nebraska, and more abun- 

 dantly northward and eastward. It was used for perfinne and was 

 burned as an incense in any ceremony or ritual to induce the pres- 

 ence of gcK)d influences or benevolent powers, while wild sage, a 

 siK-cies of ArU'mi»w, wag burned to exorcise evil influences or malevo- 

 lent powers. It was an essential element in the objects used in the 

 Wawan ceremony of the Omaha and Ponca. According to J. Owen 

 Dorsey, wachanga is one of the plants used in connection with the 

 sun dance.' 



On Palm Sundays old Dakotas. members of the church, when they 

 have received palms at the church, carry them home and tie sweet 

 grass with them when they put them up in their houses. At the 

 present time, it is said, some of the old people still carry sweet grass 

 to church for the Palm Sunday service. This is from the old-time 

 association of sweet grass with sacred ceremonies and things holy. 



When Chief Welkie. of the Pembina band of the Chippewa tribe, 

 made a treaty of peace with the Dakota tribe the ceremony included 

 the smoking of a pipe of tobacco mixed with sweet grass. This was, 

 no doubt, with the idea of summoning all good powers as witnesses 

 and helpers in conchuling the desired peace. 



Panicum vinoATTM L. Switch Grass. 



llade icafhazkru'nde (Ponca). 



On the buffalo hunt, in cutting up the meat the people were careful 

 to avoid hiying it on gi-ass of tiiis species in head, because the glumes 

 of the spikelets would adhere to the meat and afterwards would stick 

 in the throat of one eating it. 



SnPA spARTEA Trin. Porcupine Grass. Spanish Needles, Needle 

 Grass. (PI. 2.) 



MUca-hi (Omaha-Ponca), "comb plant" {mika, comb). 



Pitmts (Pawnee), "hairbrush"; or Paaii jntsuts, Pawnee hair- 

 brush. 



■ Stouan Calts, p. 454. 



