Paleo Foraging

Apocynum cannabinum L.

Common names: Indian hemp, dog bane

Blackfeet: nuxapist – “little blanket” (McClintock 1909:276)

Cherokee: andolakɑ́ – “they have broken legs” / gadaludí / gadɑladɑ́ – “broke my leg” (Banks 1953:104)

Concow: pö (Chesnut 1902)

Kiowa: ʔgho-la (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47)

Little Lake: mä-shäʹ (Chesnut 1902)

Meskwaki: mûkoseki’ äshîkîki̥ʰ – “like a milkweed” (Smith 1928:201)

Yokia: si-limʹ mä (Chesnut 1902)

Yuki: mä (Chesnut 1902)

Klamath: nōt (much prolonged “o”) (Coville 1897:103)

Location in Texas: all TX except S; present in Travis Co.

Form: herb; perennial.

Flowers: May-September (white, green, brown)

Food

Sap – the milky latex was valued by the Kiowa as a chewing gum (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). The sap was squeezed from the plant and allowed to stand overnight to harden into a white gum (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). It could also be chewed after only a few hours after extraction (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). The Isleta Pueblo mixed the sap with “clean clay” to use as chewing gum (Jones 1931:22).

Medicine

Root – was considered an almost universal remedy by the Kiowa (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). It was used as a cardiac stimulant, diuretic, and for cardiac edema (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). It causes violent vomiting (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). A decoction was drunk as a laxative by the Blackfeet (McClintock 1909:276). A decoction was used by the Blackfeet to wash the hair to prevent it falling out (McClintock 1909:276). It was pounded up by the Cherokee and made into poultice for rheumatism (Banks 1953:104). A decoction was drunk by the Cherokee for kidney disease (Banks 1953:105).

Gathering Season – root: year-round (McClintock 1909:276).

Material

Stems – used for cordage by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:40), Cherokee (Banks 1953:104), Kiowa (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47), Meskwaki (Smith 1928:267), Modoc (Coville 1897:103), Natives in Northern California (Chesnut 1902:378), and Natives of the Pacific Northwest (French 1965:381).

The stems were soaked in water, the outer was layer removed, and the remaining fibers were washed to yield soft, silky, yellowish-brown fiber (Bean and Saubel 1972:40). This “inner bark” was soft, silky, and very strong, and was used as almost the sole source of fiber for ropes and nets among Natives in Northern California (Chesnut 1902). It was also used to make garments and as thread (Chesnut 1902). The fibers were used by the Kiowa and many other tribes for cordage and sewing (Vestal and Schultes 1939:47). The fibers were used by the Cherokee for bowstrings and cordage and to weave cloth (Banks 1953:104). The Meskwaki used it for cordage second in preference to Apocynum androsaemifolium, but it was still considered strong (Smith 1928:267). They plaited it in strands to make heavier cord, or used the basic two-ply method (Smith 1928:267).

Gathering Season – stems for fibers: fall (Chesnut 1902:379) / just before the fruit ripens (Smith 1928:267). Its readiness for use was gauged by pulling up a stalk, twisting it, and seeing if it separates easily and does not break (Smith 1928:267).