Paleo Foraging

Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K.Koch

Synonyms: = Carpinus virginiana

Common names: Hophornbeam, American hop-hornbeam, eastern hop-hornbeam, roughbark hophornbeam, ironwood

Cherokee: ^dju·tinɑ́ (Banks 1953:30)

Lakota: ispaŋspaŋheča (Munson 1981:237)

Location in Texas: E TX.

Form: tree, up to 60 ft (often much smaller).

Medicine

Bark – the Cherokee combined this bark with the bark of Magnolia acuminata [not in TX] and a hot decoction was held in the mouth, spit out when cooled, and this repeated until a toothache felt relieved (Banks 1953:30).

Material

Flowers – used to make face paint by the Lakota (Munson 1981:237).

Wood – used for war clubs by the Karankawa (Berlandier 1969:176). Sometimes used for making bows by plains Indians (Dodge 1959). Used for bows by the Lakota (Munson 1981:237).