"'"■' TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS I35 



Bwwlnska {Winnoh^go). white l.erl, (/,.,"„.;-. Iu>,-1,: ,./.„, whito) 

 Kiwaut (Pawnee). 



All that is said of this species applies in ,sre„eral to all speeies of 

 Artemisia. 



A bunch of Arf,;n.mi, was sometimes used for ,, towel in old time= 

 A decoction of the plant was taken f.,r stoma.'h troubles and many 

 other kinds of ailments. It was u.sed also for bathing. A person who 

 had unwittingly broken some taboo or had. touched any sacred 

 object must bathe with Artemis;a. The immaterial essence or to 

 use the Dakota word, the to", of Artcmhia was believed to be effec- 

 tual as a protection against maleficent powers; therefore it was 

 always proper to begin any ceremonial by using Artejnhhi in order 

 to drive away any evil influences. As an example of the use among 

 the Omaha of Artemisia to avert calamity it is related that two 

 horses ran wild in the camp, knocking down the Sacred Tent. Two 

 old men, haying caught the horses, rubbed them all over with wild 

 sage, and said to the young son of their owner, " If you let them do 

 that again, the buffaloes shall gore them."' 



In the ceremonies of the installation of a chief among the Omaha 

 wild sage was used as a bed for the sacred pipes.- One of the per- 

 sonal names of men in the Te-sinde gens of the Omaha tribe is 

 Pesh^-hota.^ 



It has already been mentioned tliat the various species of Arte- 

 misia were used in old times as incense for the purpose of exorcising 

 evil powers. It has also been stated that cedai- twigs or sweet grass, 

 either one, were used as incense to attract good powers. Some 

 Christian Indians also still employ all these species as incense for 

 these specific purposes, in church services, especially at Christmas. 

 Easter, Pentecost, and on occasion of funerals. The writer has 

 seen the use of Artenmia as an incense before a church door just 

 before the body was carried into the church. A small fire was made 

 before the steps of the church, Artemisia tops being used to raise a 

 cloud of smoke. 

 Arctittm minus Schk. Burdock. 



This plant is a European introduction, probably not earlier than 

 the time of the first overland traffic by horses, mules, and oxen. It 

 is even now found commonly only along or near the old military 

 roads. It has been adopted by the Indian.s for medicinal use. 

 \^^lite Horse, of the Omaha, gave information, which he had obtained 

 from the Oto, of a decoction of the root being used as a remedy 

 for pleurisy. 



' Porsoy. Omaha Sociology, p. 235. 

 ' Ibid., p. 359. 

 'Ibid., p. 244. 



