GILMorE] TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS $1 
which they are acquainted. They believe that each species has its 
own particular song which is the expression of its life or soul. The 
Song of the Twin-flower here given is translated from the Dakota 
language by Dr. A. McG. Beede. 
“T wish to encourage the children 
Of other flower nations now appearing 
All over the face of the earth; 
So while they awaken from sleeping 
And come up from the heart of the earth 
I am standing here old and gray-headed.” 
Pulsatilla is the very earliest bloomer in the spring, often appear- 
ing before the snow has disappeared. This fact explains the allusion 
in the words “I wish to encourage the children of other flower na- 
tions.” The entire plant is hairy, and wheu ripe the head is white 
and bushy, having the appearance of a full and heavy growth of 
very white hair on the head of an old man. This appearance explains 
the allusion in “I am standing here gray-headed.” 
When an old Dakota first finds one of these flowers in the spring- 
time it reminds him of his childhood, when he wandered over the 
prairie hills at play, as free from care and sorrow as the flowers and 
the birds. He sits down near the flower on the lap of Mother Earth, 
takes out his pipe and fills it with tobacco. Then he reverently holds 
the pipe toward the earth, then toward the sky, then toward the north, 
the east, the south, and the west. After this act of silent invocation 
he smokes. While he smokes he meditates upon all the changing 
scenes of his lifetime, his joys and sorrows, his hopes, his accom- 
plishments, his disappointments, and the guidance which unseen 
powers have given him in bringing him thus far on the way, and he 
is encouraged to believe that he will be guided to the end. After 
finishing his pipe he rises and plucks the flower and carries it home 
to show his grandchildren, singing as he goes, The Song of the Twin- 
flower, which he learned as 4 child, and which he now in turn teaches 
to his grandchildren. 
The mention of “ reverently holding the pipe” is an allusion to a 
religious act of worship. Tobacco was used ceremonially and the 
pipe might be considered as a kind of censer. The earth was poeti- 
cally and mystically regarded as Mother of all living things, all 
plants, animals, and human beings. The Sky likewise was regarded 
as Father, and the Cardinal Points as the Paths of approach of the 
Powers which are all about us in this world. Man is not apart from 
nor above nature but a part of nature. All good things in nature 
are his friends and kindred, and he should be friendly with all. 
In the Omaha tribe, and probably also in other tribes, Pulsatilla 
had medicinal use. In cases of rheumatism and neuralgia the fresh 
74936°—19—33 prH——6 
