Paleo Foraging

Erigeron philadelphicus L.

Common names: Philadelphia fleabane, daisy fleabane, tête margaret

Meskwaki: tcatca’mosîkani̥ʰ – “sneezing” / tcatca’mosîkûn (Smith 1928:213)

Ojibwe: mîcao’gacan – “odor of split hoof of doe” (Smith 1932:429)

Location in Texas: C & E TX; uncommon in Travis Co.

Form: herb; biennial, perennial.
Flowers: Mar-Aug (white, pink, yellow, purple).

Medicine

Flowers – an infusion was drunk by the Ojibwe to break fevers (Smith 1932:364). The flowers were dried and their smoke was inhaled by the Ojibwe to treat head colds (Smith 1932:364). They were dried, powdered, and snuffed up the nostrils by the Ojibwe and Meskwaki to induce sneezing to relieve head colds or catarrh (Smith 1928:213, Smith 1932:364).

Roots – a decoction was drunk by the Houma for “menstruation troubles” (Speck 1941:62).

Material

Flowers – the flower heads were burned by the Ojibwe to produce a smoke that was thought to attract deer by mimicking their hoof gland pheromones (Smith 1932:428-429). They were mixed with Erigeron canadensis flowers, Euthamia graminifolia flowers, Spiranthes lacera root, Crataegus sp. bark, Cicuta maculata root, and various other herbs for the purpose (Smith 1932:429,431,432).