g2 USES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS [eth. annm 



leavi-s of PuhatilU are crushed and applied on the surface over the 

 affec-te<l part. It acts as a counter-irritant and will cause a blister 

 if left on the skin long enough. My informant especially cautioned 

 me tliut it must be used externally, as it would be dangerous and 

 harmful if taken internally. 

 Ankmonk canadensis L. Anemone, Wind Flower. 



Te-zhiiKja-malca^ (Omaha-Ponca), "little buffalo medicine" (/c, 

 buffalo; zhinga, little; rruika", medicine). 



The root of this plant was one of the most highly esteemed medi- 

 cines of the Omaha and Ponca. I do not know whether its value 

 rested more on real physiological effects or on the gi'eat mystic powers 

 a.scribed to it: however, it was prescribed for a great many ills, es- 

 jK'cially wounds, by those who had the right to use it. It was ap- 

 plied e.'tternally and taken internally, and was used also as a wash for 

 sores affecting the eyes or other parts. The right to use this plant be- 

 longed to tiie medicine-men of the Te-sinde gens. To touch a buffalo 

 calf was taboo to this gens: hence the name of the plant, "little buf- 

 falo medicine." My informant, Amos Walker, of the Te-sinde gens 

 of the Omaha, said that the plant is male and female, and that the 

 flower of the male plant is white and that of the female red. 



Anemone c^xindrica A. Gray. Long-fruited Anemone. 

 Wathtbaba-nmka" (Ponca), "playing-card medicine." 

 Some Ponca used the woolly fruits of this j^lant as charms for 



good luck in playing cards, rubbing their hands in the smoke arising 



from burning some of the fruits and also nibbing the palms with the 



chewed fruit when about to engage in a card game. 



Aqun-EGiA canadensis L. Wild Columbine. (PI. 11, h.) 

 Inubtho"-kithe-sahe-hi (Omaha-Ponca), "black perfume plant" 

 {inuhtho", fragrant; kithe, to make, to cause; sabe, black; hi, 

 plant). 

 Skalikdfit or Skartkatit (Pawnee), "black-seed" (skaU. seed; 



katif, black). 

 The seeds are used by Omaha and I'onca, especially by bachelors, 

 as a perfume. To obtain the odor the seeds must be crushed, a result 

 which the Ouiaha commonly get by chewing to a paste. This paste is 

 spread among the clothes, where its fragrant quality persists for a 

 long time, being ])erceptible whenever dampened by dew or rain. 

 Among the Pawnee the seeds are used for perfume and as a love 

 charm. In cases of fever and headache the seeds are crushed with an 

 elm-wood pestle in a mortar hollowed out of the same wood. The 

 resulting powder is put into hot water and the infusion is drunk. 

 For use as a love charm the pulverized seeds are rublxnl in the palms, 

 and the suitor contrives to shake hands with the desired one, whose 



