1878: ] Plants Used by Indians of the United States. 601 
with other substances. When raw it has a nutty taste but when 
cooked assumes a carroty flavor. Its outer surface is grayish, 
but its interior is white and farinaceous. 
Milla capitata var. pauciflora, commonly called by the Mexicans 
of Sonora and Arizona, Corvena. It is rather a small bulb, 
resembling the crocus both externally and internally. Its taste is 
agreeable, sweet and mucilaginous, and is considered very nutri- 
tious, even by Americans. 
Amoreuxia schiedearia; Himajins of the Papajos; Saya of the 
Pimos. It furnishes to the Indians of Arizona just named, an 
edible root. They eat it roasted or baked in hot ashes. It is 
- quite palatable, with a slightly bitter tang. 
Camassia esculenta.—Wild hyacinth, a very common plant in the 
upper Mississippi valley. Indians and Whites eat this root and find 
it very nutritious, with an agreeable, mucilaginous taste. 
Valeriana edulis —The root of this plant is eaten raw or dried; 
it is also ground into flour and made into bread or mush by the 
Pah-Ute Indians. . 
Claytonia lanceolata—The roots of this plant, though small, 
are prized by the Pah-Utes as food, having a pleasant, crisp and 
nutty taste. 
Psoralea castorea Watson, new species.—This plant grows in 
exposed sandy localities between Beaver Dams, Arizona, and 
St. Thomas, Nevada: The tuberous roots are large, very white, 
and farinaceous. The Pah-Utes eat them raw, or cooked in hot 
ashes, or ground up and made into bread or mush. 
Psoralea mephitica Watson, new species.—The leaves of this 
plant yield a very disagreeable smell, but the tuberous roots, 
though small, are farinaceous and are consumed as food after be- 
ing prepared as mentioned for Psoralea castorea. It is abundant — 
on the low places between the hills south-east from St. George, , 
Southern Utah, and the Pah-Utes resort there to collect its roots. 
Roots of carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips and parsnips are eaten 
by Pah-Utes. These Indians have acquired the taste for the 
tubers of all these plants and they consume them in great num- 
bers, either raw or cooked, without being cleaned. They place 
them in the hot ashes and devour them when cooked, skins, dirt 
and all. When boiled, not only are ei tubers eaten but the 
water in which they were boiled is dran se 
Seeds .—Corn, Native Indian; Awe of the Pah-Utes. This : 
