GILMORE] TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS 109 
powers. Part of the sacred pole of the Omaha and Ponca is made 
of ash, the other part being of cottonwood.” * 
The stems of the two principal symbolic objects used in the 
Wawa? ceremony of the Omaha and the corresponding ceremony of 
the Hako of the Pawnee were made of ash wood. 
GENTIANACEAE 
DaSySTEPHANA PUBERULA (Michx.) Small. Gentian. 
Maka chahiwi-cho (Winnebago), “blue-blossom medicine” 
(maka", medicine; chahiwi, blossom; cho, blue). 
Pezhuta-zi (Dakota), “yellow medicine” (pezhuta, medicine; 27, 
yellow). So called because of the color of the roots. 
A decoction of the root is taken as a tonic; it is so used alone and 
also in combination with other medicinal plants. 
ASCLEPIADACEAE 
Asciepras TuBEROSA L. Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root. 
Maka" saka (Omaha-Ponca), “raw medicine”; (saka, raw; 
maka” saka thata i, medicine they eat raw). Another name 
given is kiw maka", wound medicine. The name raw medicine 
was given because this root was used without boiling. 
The root was eaten raw for bronchial and pulmonary trouble. It 
was also chewed and put into wounds, or pulverized when dry and 
blown into wounds. It was applied as a remedy for old, obstinate 
sores. In the Omaha tribe this medicine and its rites belonged to 
the Shell Society. A certain member of the society was the author- 
ized guardian or keeper of this medicine. It was his prerogative to 
dig the root and distribute bundles of it to the members of the society. 
The ceremonials connected with the digging, preparation, consecra- 
tion, and distribution occupied four days. In this connection it 
may not be out of place to note that four is the dominant number in 
all ritual and in all orientation in space and time among the Plains 
tribes, just as the number seven is dominant with some other peoples. 
Whether four or seven be the dominant number depends on whether 
the four cardinal points of the horizon are given preeminence or 
whether equal place is given also to the three remaining points, the 
Zenith, the Nadir, and the Here. 
Asctepras syrtaca L. Milkweed. (Pls. 23, 24.) 
Waktha (Omaha-Ponca). 
Mahintsh (Winnebago). 
Karipiku (Pawnee). 
This plant is used for food at three stages of its growth—the 
young sprouts in early spring, like asparagus sprouts; the clusters 
1Siouan Cults, p. 390. 
