BOTANICAL INI>EX. 
47 
cwau plains; which gives it a considerable northern range. Prof. 
Bell, who traveled last summer from the west end of Lake Winne- 
peg to York Factory on Hudson Bay, tells me that it is common on 
the rivers and lakes along that rout. It is not mentioned in a small: 
MS. list of plants, collected by one of the Geological Survey par- 
ties on Lake Mistassini, (Lat. oi°; Lon. 75°;) some years ago, hut I 
think it probable that it may go even so far north.” “I could not ab- 
solutely assert that it does not occur in Alaska, but it has apt been 
seen in eight years assiduous collecting.” — ( W. if. Dali.) , 
In the great economy of nature the Sugittaria have contributed 
their full share to the support of the human family in' all parts, of 
the world. “The Chinese cultivate <$. Sinensis very extensively, for 
food, and they frequently represent them in their drawings.”—, 
{T'reas. of Botany.) They also collect the tubers of the wild plants 
for food in California. “The feculent rhizoms of S. $agittrrfolia 
loose their acridity by desiccation, and serve as food to the Tartar 
Kalmucks” — {Hooker.) . “Aquatic birds are fond of them, (tubers) 
and resort to favorite spots in Spring to feast upon them, when the 
Indians slay the birds for their own feasts; the tubers are generally 
as large as hens’ eggs, and are greatly relished when raw, but has a 
bitter, milky juice, not agreeable to civilized man; this is destroyed 
in boiling, however, and the roots are rendered sweet and palatable; 
they are considered excellent when cooked with meat, either salt or 
fresh. To collect the roots, the Indians wade into the water and 
loosen them with their feet, when they float up and are gathered. 
They are of an oblong shape; in color, whitish-yellow, banded with 
four black rings.” — (U. S. Agricultural Rept., 1S70.) “They serve as 
food for the Indians of Washington Territory, under the name of 
Wappatoo.” — {Dr. J. G. Cooper, Vol. 12, Pacific R. 
B. Surrey.) “In shallow ponds and muddy mar- 
gins of hikes and rivers throughout the North- 
west, this plant, so variable in foliage and so 
abundant in distribution, furnishes an important 
article of native food, in the tubers which beset 
its fibrous roots. These tubers, (from the fact of 
their affording nourishment to the larger aquatic 
fowls, which congregate in such abundance about 
the North-western Lakes,) are called by the Chip - 
pewas Wab-es-i-pin-ig or Swan Potatoes, a name 
which has been naturally appropriated to several 
streams in this region. — Wabesipinicon, meaning 
the abode of the Swan Potatoc. The tubers fre- 
quently attain the size of a small hen egg, and 
are eaten by the Indians, with whom they are a 
great favorite. In their raw state they contain a 
bitter, milky juice, but in boiling, become sweet 
and palatable.” — (C. C. Parry in Owen's Survei / of 
A'. IF.) 
From the foregoing extracts, it will be seen 
how universally they have been employed to as- 
sist in the maintainance of the human family, and 
probably we know very little, yet, bow extensive- 
ly they have been employed in North America. 
As for their medical qualities, we find only a sin- 
gle recorded notice. Sir J. D. Hooker says : “they 
have been prescribed, but without good reason, 
for hydrophobia.” Perhaps, our limited observa- 
tion and knowledge of this particular plant, 
would not add anything of general interest to the. 
fund already accumulated ; but as some doubts ex- 
ist in regard to their always producing a tuber, 
we will say : We supposed, as many others appar- 
ently do, that those found in the central and east- 
ern portion of the United States, (North America) 
produced no tubers, but now find it is a mistake. 
We have collected them from a great many locali- 
ties in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and find in early 
spring a solid, brittle, tuberous corm (Fig. 107) 
down deep in the earth, being the germ from 
Fig. 107, 
