DENSMORE] LIST OF PLANTS 297 
There is no exact terminology of Chippewa plants, although there 
are some generally accepted designations of common plants and trees. 
In obtaining the names of plants it was found that the same name is 
often given to several plants, and that one plant may have several 
names. Individuals often had their own names for the plants which 
they used as remedies. It was also customary for a medicine man, 
when teaching the use of a plant, to show a specimen of the plant 
without giving it any name. Thus the identity of the plant was 
transmitted with more secrecy than would have been possible if a 
name had been assigned to it. The names by which plants are desig- 
nated by the Chippewa are usually compound nouns indicating the 
appearance of the plant, the place where it grows, a characteristic 
property of the plant, or its principal use. To this is often added a 
termination indicating the part of the plant which is utilized, as 
root or leaf. 
Examples of these classes of plant names are as follows: 
Name indicating appearance of the plant: Be’cigodji’bigik (blue cohosh), 
becig, one; djibiguk, root; the plant having a tap root. 
Name indicating place where the plant grows: Mt’ckigwa’tig (tamarack), 
muckig, swamp; atig, termination indicating wood. 
Name indicating a characteristic property of the plant: Dado’cabodji’bik 
(dandelion), dadocabo, liquid, or milk; odjibik, root. 
Name indicating characteristic use of plant: A’gimak’ 
shoe; ak, termination signifying wood. 
(ash), agim, snow- 
List or PLANTS* ARRANGED ACCORDING TO NATIVE NAME 
Native name Common name Native name Common name 
Abo djigin®= = sees. eesas Reed. A’sisiwe’minaga’wunj--| Chokecherry. 
A‘djidamo’wano---_____ Yarrow, squirrel- tail, || Aya’ bidjidji’bikagi’sin-_| Spikenard. 
goldenrod.! 
A‘gimak’._ eee Ash. Mugwort, prairie clover. 
Ago’ bisowin= 22222402 - Ladyslipper. Mugwort. 
Agong’osimintn’_ False Solomonseal. Beba’mokodjibika’gisin_| Dogbane. 
Agwin’gusibtig’ --_- Twisted-stalk. Be’ cigodji’ bigak_________ Blue cohosh, wild gera- 
Cup-plant. nium. 
Bulrush. Be’dukadak’igisin_-_____- Umbrella plant. 
Hedge-nettle. Bepadji’ckanakiz’/it ma’-| Nettle. 
Honeysuckle, bugle- zana’tig. 
weed. Bi’ bigwe’wunuck_-__-___| Cow parsnip. 
Arrowwood. Bibi/gwanukuk’ __ Horsemint. 
Goldenrod. Bi’jikiwi’bugesan’_______ Ground-plum. 
Cranberry. Bi'jikiwi’ginig___.______- Wild rose. 
Bi'jikiwin’gick Prairie sage. 
Anidji/minibiig’ - Bijikiwtiek(. 2222. ase Seneca snakeroot, 
A’ninandak’ - Balsam fir. Bima’kwid___.__...---- Bittersweet. 
A/nina’tig____ Sugar maple. Bine’ btig____ Marsh locks. 
A’‘nimu’sid__ Hepatica. Bd’gesana’tig Wild plum. 
Aptik’we_____ Cat-tail. Bui‘ giso"wine?._ 2 sss Mugwort, swamp milk- 
Asaidie5 Aspen. weed, Joe Pye weed. 
Asanimig = eee W ood-moss, sphagnum. Bugwidj/miskodi’simin_| Hog peanut. 
A! sawan nos eo Lady fern. Busidji’bikigik________- Meadow parsnip. 
As'kibwar't=: 222 Jerusalem artichoke. | Cabo’minaga/winj_____- Gooseberry. 
1 It will be noted that one name is frequently given to several plants and that one plant is frequently 
called by several names. 
55231 °—28——20 
