Ratibida columnifera / Mexican hat

Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Wooton & Standl.

Synonyms: = R. columnaris, Lepachys columnifera, Obeliscaria pulcherrima, Rudbeckia columnaris, R. columnifera

Common names: Mexican hat, upright prairie coneflower

Northern Cheyenne: shėʔshenovotsé-heséeoʔotse – “rattlesnake medicine” (Hart 1981:23)

Dakota: waḣcha-zi chikala (Gilmore 1977:79)

Lakota: wiŋawazi hutkan – “bur root” / asaŋpi ijatke / napoštaŋ (Munson 1981:238)

Osage: bašta (Munson 1981:238)

Location in Texas: all TX; very common in Travis Co.

Form: herb; perennial.

Flowers: May-Oct (orange, yellow, brown).

Food

Leaves & flowers – an infusion was used as tea by the Oglala (Gilmore 1977:79).

Medicine

Leaves & flowers – a decoction was drunk for headaches by the Lakota (Munson 1981:238).

Leaves & stems – an infusion was drunk to treat stomachache by the Lakota (Munson 1981:238). A decoction was applied externally to rattlesnake bites by the northern Cheyenne to relieve pain and “draw out” the venom (Hart 1981:23). A decoction was applied by the northern Cheyenne externally to poison ivy rashes to relive them (Hart 1981:23).

[unspecified part] – used by the Lakota or Osage to stop bleeding on external wounds, as well as to treat internal hemorrhage (Munson 1981:238).

Notes – a symbol of life among the Osage (Munson 1981:238).

Experimentation

I have tried an infusion of the flowers and leaves. I used a handful of them dried and allowed them to infuse in a pint of boiled water for 5 minutes. The taste was not particularly pleasant, being mostly bitter and astringent. But it was not distasteful, being comparable to a strong black tea in taste.

I did not experience any negative or positive effects from chugging a pint on an empty stomach.