GILMOEE] TAXONOMIC r.IST OF PLANTS gj 



Thermopsis rhombifolia (Xutt.) Richards. False Lupine. 



The flowers of this phuit were dried and used in fumigation, that 

 is, the smoke treatment, for rheumatism, especially inflammatory 

 rheumatism. The method of treatment was to mix tiie dried flowers 

 with hair and burn the mixture under the affected part, confining the 

 smoke and heat with a close covering. It is said that this treatment, 

 with this remedy, reduces the swelling at once and relieves the pain. 



Melii.otus alra Desv. and M. oi ficinaus (L.) Lam. Sweet Clover. 



Warha''ffa vycchecha (Dakota): iniilyi"<j<t. sweet grass; h/c- 

 ehccJui, similar. 



Melilotus was introduced by the Europeans. Seeds probably 

 came from the east among the effects of the early missionaries, 

 for it first appeared on the grounds of the Pi-esbyterian mi.s.si()n on 

 the Omaha Reservation, which was built in lS.-)()-.')7. The Omaha 

 coming to the mission observed this plant, which had newly found its 

 way into their country with the white men. They noticed that its 

 odor resembled that of Sarastann odorata^ which they venerated and 

 used in religious ceremonies. They were pleased with its odor, and 

 since it was perhaps associated in their minds with the white man's 

 religion, owing to its presence at the mission, they gathered bunches 

 of it because of its pleasant odor, which they carried to their iionies. 

 Thus the plant was scattered all over the reservation, so that there 

 is a more thorough distribution of it in that county than in any 

 other part of the State that I have seen. The Dakota also are fond 

 of the plant's odor and liken it to Sarastamt, hence their name for it. 

 They gather bunches of Melilotus to hang in their houses for its 

 fragrance. 



Astracalus carolixiaxa L. Little Rattle-pod. 



Ga"satho (Omaha-Ponca), rattle. 



When ripe, the stalks with their persistent pods were used by 

 small boys as rattles in the games in which they imitated the tribal 

 dances, hence the Omaha-Ponca name signifying " rattle." No other 

 use was found for the plant except to serve as a kind of mat on which 

 was laid the fresh meat in course of butchering on the prairie, so that 

 it might be kept free from dirt. 



A decoction of the root was used among the Teton Dakota as a 

 febrifuge for children. 



Geoprumnon crassicarpum (Xutt.) Rydb. Buffalo Pea, Ground 

 Plum. 



Ptc ta wofe (Dakota), " food of buffalo " {lAe, buffalo; wote, food; 

 to, genitive sign). 



