132 USES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS (ETH. ANN. 23 
Smpuium rerrouiatum L. Cup-plant, Square-stem, Angle-stem. 
Zha tanga (Omaha-Ponea), big-weed, because of its size; ashude- 
kithe because of the use of root stocks in the smoke treatment; 
and zha-baho-hi, weed with angled stem (zha, weed; baho, hav- 
ing corners; Az, plant body). 
Rake-ni-ozhu (Winnebago), weed that holds water (rake, weed; ni, 
water; ozhu, in, full or containing). Another name is rake- 
paraparatsh, square-weed (paraparatsh, square). 
The root stock of this plant was very commonly used in the smoke 
treatment for cold in the head, neuralgia, and rheumatism. It was 
used also in the vapor bath. A Winnebago medicine-man said a 
decoction was made from the root stock which was used as an emetic 
in preparatory cleansing and lustration before going on the buffalo 
hunt or on any other important undertaking. It was thus used 
also for cleansing from ceremonial defilement incident to accidental 
proximity to a woman during her menstrual period. 
Smzpurum Lacrniarum L. Pilot Weed, Compass Plant, Gum Weed, 
Rosin Weed. 
Cha"shinshitla (Dakota), Teton dialect, cha"shilshilya. 
Zha-pa (Omaha-Ponea), bitter weed (zha, weed; pa, bitter), and 
maka"-tanga, big medicine, or root. 
Shoka"wa-hu (Winnebago), gum plant (shoko"wa, gum). 
Kahts-tawas (Pawnee), rough medicine (/ahtsu, medicine; 
tawas, rough); also called nakisokwt or nakisu-kiitsu (nakisu, 
pine; kzitsu, water). 
The children gathered chewing gum from the upper parts of the 
stem, wheye the gum exudes, forming large lumps. The Omaha and 
Ponca say that where this plant abounds lightning is very prevalent, 
so they will never make camp in such a place. The dried root was 
burned during electrical storms that its smoke might act as a charm 
to avert lightning stroke. According to a Pawnee a decoction made 
from the pounded root was taken for general debility. This prep- 
aration was given to horses as a tonic by the Omaha and Ponca, and 
a Santee Dakota said his people used it as a vermifuge for horses. 
Amprosta ELATIOR L. Ragweed. 
White Horse, an Omaha medicine-man, said that this plant was 
an Oto remedy for nausea. In the treatment the surface of the 
abdomen of the patient was first scarified and a dressing of the 
bruised leaves was laid thereon. 
Borsera PApposa (Vent.) Rydb. Fetid Marigold, Prairie-dog Food. 
Pizpiza-ta-wote (Dakota), prairie-dog food (pizpiza, prairie dog; 
wote, food; ta, genitive sign). 
Pezhe piazhi (Omaha-Ponca), vile weed, referring to its odor 
(pezhe, herb; piazhi, bad, mean, vile). 
Askutstat (Pawnee). 
