94 USES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 33 
ParosELA ENNEANDRA (Nutt.) Britton. 
An Oglala informant said the root is poisonous. From her de- 
scription of the effect I should think it must have a strong narcotic 
effect. I have not had an analysis made. 
Parosena AuREA (Nutt.) Britton. 
Pezhuta pa (Dakota), “bitter medicine.” 
An Oglala informant said a decoction of the leaves is used for 
colic and dysentery. 
PETALOSTEMUM PURPUREUM (Vent.) Rydb. Purple Prairie Clover, 
and P. canpipum (Willd.) Michx. White Prairie Clover. 
Wanakcha (Dakota). 
Maka" skithe (Omaha-Ponca). This is one of several plants desig- 
nated as maka" skithe, sweet medicine. 
Kiha piliwus hawastat (Pawnee), “broom weed” (kiha, room; 
piliwus, broom; hawastatu, weed). Also called hahts-pidipatshi, 
small medicine (kahts, from kahtsu). 
An Oglala said the leaves were sometimes used to make a drink 
like tea. According to a Ponca its root was commonly chewed for 
its pleasant taste. Although the word maka” appears in the Omaha- 
Ponca name, no medicinal property is ascribed to this plant by these 
tribes so far as known now. The Pawnee name is derived from the 
use of the tough, elastic stems to make brooms with which to sweep 
the lodge. The plant was used in old time by the Pawnee as a 
prophylactic. The root, pulverized, was put into hot water. After 
the sediment settled the water was drunk to keep away disease. ‘The 
sediment was collected in the drinking-shell and carried to a place 
prepared for it, where it was buried with respect. 
Guycine apros L. Indian Potato. (PI. 17.) 
Mdo (Dakota) ; Teton dialect, blo. 
Nu (Omaha-Ponea). 
Tdo (Winnebago). 
Its (Pawnee). 
The tubers of this plant were utilized for food by all the tribes 
within its range. These tubers were prepared by boiling or roasting. 
Apios tuberosa on the banks of streams and in alluvial bottoms is the true 
pomme de terre of the French and the modo or wild potato of the Sioux Indians, 
and is extensively used as an article of diet. . . . It should not be con- 
founded with the ground-nut of the South.’ 
Many explorers and early settlers of Virginia, New England, and 
New France make mention of the use of Aptos? as food by the 
1 Report of Commissioner of Agriculture for 1870, p. 405. 
2 Glycine apios was formerly called Apios tuberosa. 
