654 Plants Used by Indians of the United States. [ October, 
Dalea emoryi, D. polyadenta—Branches of this plant steeped in 
water forma bright yellowish-brown dye, and emit a strong rhue- 
like odor. The Coahuila Indians of California, to ornament their 
baskets of a yellowish-brown color, steep the rushes in a dye of 
that color, prepared from these Dad/eas. 
Larrea mexicana, Tah-sun-up of the Pah-Utes——It is one 
of the commonest plants of Southern California, Lower Cali- 
fornia, Arizona and Southern Utah. A lotion made by steep- 
ing branches of this plant in water, and applied to sores of 
man or beasts proves very efficacious, and a powder prepared 
from the dry leaves is good for chronic sores. From the old 
wood exudes an abundance of a gum which is softenedand used 
by the Indians to cement their flint arrow heads into«their shafts. 
The Apache Indians use this gum asa styptic. The settlers of 
Utah often use this plant in dyeing, as it produces a greenish- 
yellow color, and garments thug dyed have the curious property 
of emitting a very disagreeable, resinous odor ever afterwards 
upon being heated. In consequence of the peculiar odor of the 
fresh plant it is sometimes called creasote wood. 
Garrya flavescens—The fruit of this plant yields a violet 
coloring matter which is used by Arizona Indians. The leaves 
are used for ague and for colds, made into a tea and. taken in- 
ternally. | 
 Trichostemma lanatum—By Mexicans and the Indians of 
Southern California, it is called Romero. It is used by them 
to impart a dark or black color to the hair, and to promote 
its growth. A strong decoction is made of the leaves which is 
frequently applied to the hair. It is a very beautiful plant with 
bright blue flowers which emit a strong odor of hops. 
Orthocarpus luteus—This plant yields a delicate pink color, 
which is used by the Nevada Indians. 
Eritrichium micranthum.—The slender roots of this plant yield 
_a delicate yellow paint, used by Indians of Utah. 
Lithospermum longiflorum—The root yields a purple color; it 
is the Puccoon of the Eastern Indians. 
Polyporus officinalis, a fungus which yields a reddish coloring 
matter which at one time was much used by Indians to paint 
their faces. Now vermilion is so cheap that it has to a great ex- 
tent superseded this. — ; 
Evernia’ ies, a lichen which yields the highly prized a 
