378 USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS [eth. ann. 44 



List of Plants in Useful and Decorative Arts — Continued 



Botanical name 



Common name 



Use 



Phragmites communis Trin_. 



Pinus sp 



Pinus resinosa Ait 



Quercus sp 



Salix sp 



Sarracenia purpurea L 



Scirpus validus Vahl 



Sphagnum 



Tilia americana L 



Turresia odorata (L.) Hitchc 



Typha latifolia L 



Ulmus fulva Michx 



Urt icastrum divarieatum (L.) 

 Kuntze. 



Reed 



Pine 



Red pine 



Oak 



Willow 



Pitcher plant 



Bulrush 



Moss 



Basswood 



Sweet grays 



Cat-tail 



Slippery elm_ 

 False nettle__ 



Grass 



Woven frames for drying 



berries. 

 General utility. 

 General utility and toys. 

 Awls, etc. 



Smoking and general utility. 

 Toys. 



Mats and toys. 

 Absorbent. 



Twine and general utility. 

 Ceremonial, economic and 



pleasurable. 

 Mats, baskets, etc. 

 General utility. 

 Twine. 



Toys. 



Manner of Use 



Twine was one of the most important articles in the economic life 

 of the Chippewa. It was made chiefly from the inner bark (fiber) 

 of the basswood, though slippery elm bark was also used for this 

 purpose. The twine was used in the weaving of mats and the 

 tying of large and small packets. For some purposes the fiber was 

 used without twisting, the width of the fiber depending on the 

 strength required; thus a strip of fiber as soft and fine as cotton 

 string could be obtained, or a heavy fiber that would hold a consider- 

 able weight. The fiber was boiled to give additional toughness if this 

 was es{>ecially desired. In preparing the fiber it was customary to 

 cut the bark from the basswood tree in long strips, put it in the 

 water at the edge of a lake, among the rushes, for a few days, after 

 which the soft inner bark could be separated from the outer bark. 

 (PI. 47.) The fiber thus obtained was separated into strips less than 

 an inch wide and stored in large coils until needed. The twisting of 

 the fiber into twine could be done at any time. Twine was also made 

 from the dry stalks of the false nettle. This was used in sewing and, 

 in two grades of fineness, was used in making fish nets. It is said 

 that a cloth was once made of this fiber and used for women's dresses. 



The thorns of the thorn-apple tree were gathered by the women 

 and used as awls in their sewing. Awls were also made of oak. 



Bulrush mats for the floor were woven on frames, the basswood 

 twine being passed " over and under " the rushes. (PL 48, a.) Reeds 



