92 USES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS [PTH. ANN. 33 
Tdika shande (Omaha-Ponea) ; called also wamide wenigthe from 
a use that was made of it. Wamide means “ seed” in the sense 
of seed designed for planting; wenigthe means “something to 
go with.” 4 
Both the Omaha and the Ponca in the old time gathered the fruits 
of this plant, which are formed just at corn-planting time, and put 
them with the seed corn. When the latter had been sufficiently soaked 
it was planted, but the Geoprumnon fruits were thrown away. No 
one in either tribe was able to give any reason for this process in 
preparation of seed corn; it was an old custom, the origin of which 
is forgotten. 
Astragalus crassicarpus * was used as an ingredient of “ war medi- 
cine” among the Chippewa.” 
Guycyruiza LepIpoTA Pursh. Wild Licorice. 
Wi-nawizi (Dakota), “ jealous woman” (wi, woman; nawizi, jeal- 
ous). The name is said to have been suggested by the burs, which 
“take hold of a man.” 
Pithahatusakitstsuhast (Pawnee). 
Among the Teton Dakota a poultice for sore backs of horses is made 
by chewing the leaves of this plant. For toothache the sufferer chews 
the root and holds it in the mouth. The Indians say, “It tastes 
strong at first, but after a while it becomes sweet.” The leaves after 
being steeped are applied to the ears for earache. A decoction of the 
root is used as a remedy for fever in children. 
PsoRALEA ESCULENTA Pursh. Pomme Blanche, Tipsin. (Pls. 15, 16.) 
Tipsi” or tipsi na (Dakota) ; Teton dialect, tipsinla. 
Nugthe (Omaha-Ponca). 
Tdokewiht (Winnebago), hungry. 
Patsuroka (Pawnee). 
The roots of this plant were an important item of the vegetal 
diet of the Plains tribes. After being peeled they were eaten fresh 
and uncooked or cooked. Large quantities were dug in June and 
early July to peel and dry for the winter food supply. The peeled 
roots were braided in long strings by the tapering ends, as strings of 
garlic are braided by the tops. 
The root is both farinaceous and glutinous and seems to form a 
desirable food with a palatable taste characteristic of the bean 
family. 
Growing as this plant does, on the dry prairie in hard ground, 
with the enlargement of the root several inches below the surface, it 
1 4stralagus crassicarpus is a synonym of Geoprumnon crassicarpum (Nutt.) Rydb. 
2 Densmore, Chippewa Music—II, pp. 63-64. 
