Paleo Foraging

Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott

Synonyms: = A. acuminatum, A. atrorubens, A. pusillum, A. quinatum, A. stewardsonii, Arum triphyllum

Common names: Jack in the pulpit, Indian turnip

Cherokee: tuyastí / tu•s’tí (Blake 1953:11)

Choctaw: hichi (Bushnell 1909:23)

Menominee: äwä’sê oske’sîk – “the bear’s eye (Smith 1923:17)

Ojibwe: makopin – “bear root” (Blair 1911:115)

Location in Texas: E TX.

Form: herb; perennial.

Food

Root – cut into very thin slices and cooked in an earth oven for 3 days to nullify the poison by Great Lakes and upper Mississippi valley Indians (Blair 1911:115).

Medicine

Root – a decoction was drunk “to make blood” by the Choctaw (Bushnell 1909:23). Pounded up and used as a poultice for sore eyes by the Menominee (Smith 1923:17).