A Historical Look A Historical Look at the Native at the Native

Plants of Plants of MinnesotaMinnesota

By Elizabeth HaspertBy Elizabeth Haspert

The Biomes of MNThe Biomes of MN

PrairiePrairie

Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forest

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

FreshwaterFreshwater

Human Culture InteractionHuman Culture Interaction

New Jersey TeaNew Jersey Tea

A woody shrub found in sandy areasA woody shrub found in sandy areas

After the Boston Tea Party, colonists began to After the Boston Tea Party, colonists began to make black tea from the New Jersey Tea plant make black tea from the New Jersey Tea plant due to the shortage of teadue to the shortage of tea

Other uses includeOther uses include Missouri tribes burned tea leaves as wood fuelMissouri tribes burned tea leaves as wood fuel Chippewa tribes used the roots for pulmonary Chippewa tribes used the roots for pulmonary

and constipation troublesand constipation troubles Cherokee used roots for tooth aches and hot Cherokee used roots for tooth aches and hot

root tea for bowel problemsroot tea for bowel problems

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party

Lead PlantLead Plant

Has roots three times the size of the plant, Has roots three times the size of the plant, usually four feet or deeperusually four feet or deeper

Hated by pioneers for its deep roots because Hated by pioneers for its deep roots because it often broke plowsit often broke plows

Common name derived from the belief the Common name derived from the belief the plant grew where there was lead in the plant grew where there was lead in the groundground

Also called Prairie Shoestring (after its long Also called Prairie Shoestring (after its long roots)roots)

Pioneers Plowing Pioneers Plowing Minnesota PrairieMinnesota Prairie

BedstrawBedstraw

Name comes from the plant being used to Name comes from the plant being used to stuff bedsstuff beds

Also believed to be one of the plants in the Also believed to be one of the plants in the hay in the manger in Bethlehemhay in the manger in Bethlehem

Used to curdle milk in order to make cheese Used to curdle milk in order to make cheese as well as give the cheese coloras well as give the cheese color

Used as an herbal remedy forUsed as an herbal remedy for Urinary diseasesUrinary diseases Kidney stonesKidney stones Epilepsy Epilepsy HysteriaHysteria

From Plant to BeddingFrom Plant to Bedding

White Pine White Pine

Identifiable by its five needles per “leaf”, equal to the number of Identifiable by its five needles per “leaf”, equal to the number of letters in whiteletters in white

Called King’s Tree because it was “reserved” for the British Royal Called King’s Tree because it was “reserved” for the British Royal Navy Navy

Used as the masts on ships including the Used as the masts on ships including the USS ConstitutionUSS Constitution

During American Revolution, patriots enjoyed seeing how many During American Revolution, patriots enjoyed seeing how many white pines one could cut down and haul awaywhite pines one could cut down and haul away

Drove expansion westward because it was a favorite tree of Drove expansion westward because it was a favorite tree of loggersloggers

Used for building construction, furniture, and paneling in colonial Used for building construction, furniture, and paneling in colonial homes pre-Civil Warhomes pre-Civil War

Has also been used as food and herbal medicine by Algonquians, Has also been used as food and herbal medicine by Algonquians, Ojibwe, and Chippewa tribesOjibwe, and Chippewa tribes

Has five times the amount of Vitamin C of lemons!Has five times the amount of Vitamin C of lemons!

USS ConstitutionUSS Constitution

Common YarrowCommon Yarrow

Has been used in a variety of ways throughout Has been used in a variety of ways throughout historyhistory As a vegetable in the 17As a vegetable in the 17thth century century As herbal medicineAs herbal medicine To stop bleeding, as it was used by Achilles To stop bleeding, as it was used by Achilles

Two English nursery rhymes refer to yarrowTwo English nursery rhymes refer to yarrow ““Yarroway, yarroway, bear a white blow,Yarroway, yarroway, bear a white blow,

If my love love me, my nose will bleed now.”If my love love me, my nose will bleed now.” ““Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree,Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree,

Thy true name it is yarrow,Thy true name it is yarrow,

Now who my bosom friend must be,Now who my bosom friend must be,

Pray tell thou me to-morrow.”Pray tell thou me to-morrow.”

The Yarrow FairyThe Yarrow Fairy

BearberryBearberry

Common name derived from the edible fruit bears enjoy Common name derived from the edible fruit bears enjoy eatingeating

Had many uses throughout historyHad many uses throughout history Chinese used it as a diuretic, as well as to treat kidney and Chinese used it as a diuretic, as well as to treat kidney and

urinary problems urinary problems Anishinaable tribes used bearberry, red bark willow, and Anishinaable tribes used bearberry, red bark willow, and

red osier dogwood to make tobaccored osier dogwood to make tobacco Cheyenne used it to treat back sprainsCheyenne used it to treat back sprains Early European settlers in the Americas used bearberry to Early European settlers in the Americas used bearberry to

treat kidney stones, urinary system diseases, and treat kidney stones, urinary system diseases, and inflammation of the kidney inflammation of the kidney

Called kinnikinick when used for tobacco, meaning Called kinnikinick when used for tobacco, meaning mixturemixture

Bear Eating BearberryBear Eating Bearberry

Sphagnum MossSphagnum Moss

Grows in bogs Grows in bogs

Very acidic, yet very sterileVery acidic, yet very sterile

Can absorb up to twenty times its weightCan absorb up to twenty times its weight

Used as bandages to dress wounds in World Used as bandages to dress wounds in World War IWar I

Also used in diapers and as feminine napkinsAlso used in diapers and as feminine napkins

Dried, compact sphagnum moss is known as Dried, compact sphagnum moss is known as peat mosspeat moss

Used today as animal bedding, insulating Used today as animal bedding, insulating material, and in potted plants material, and in potted plants

From Sphagnum to Peat From Sphagnum to Peat MossMoss

CattailCattail

A wetland plant that grows along the edge of A wetland plant that grows along the edge of a lake or in a marsha lake or in a marsh

Has had many different uses Has had many different uses Native American tribes have used cattail as Native American tribes have used cattail as

lining for moccasins, bedding, pillows, diapers, lining for moccasins, bedding, pillows, diapers, and baby powderand baby powder

The lining in life vests The lining in life vests As food including the yellow pollen that can be As food including the yellow pollen that can be

used like flour used like flour

Cattail PancakesCattail Pancakes

1/2 C cattail pollen1/2 C cattail pollen1/2 C all purpose flour1/2 C all purpose flour2 tsp baking powder2 tsp baking powder1 C milk (reconstituted can be used) or 1 C milk (reconstituted can be used) or use buttermilk with additional 1/2 tsp sodause buttermilk with additional 1/2 tsp soda1 egg or egg substitute1 egg or egg substitute1/4 tsp salt1/4 tsp salt1 Tbsp sugar1 Tbsp sugar2 Tbsp oil2 Tbsp oil

Mix dry ingredients, then add milk and oil. Mix dry ingredients, then add milk and oil. Mix only until moistened. Heat griddle or pan until Mix only until moistened. Heat griddle or pan until water drops sizzle. Pour batter on the hot griddle. water drops sizzle. Pour batter on the hot griddle. Turn pancakes when they are full of bubbles, just Turn pancakes when they are full of bubbles, just before they break. Serve hot. Makes 10 four inch before they break. Serve hot. Makes 10 four inch pancakes.pancakes.

SwitchgrassSwitchgrass

Thought to be an alternative biofuel to help Thought to be an alternative biofuel to help reduce America’s dependency foreign oilreduce America’s dependency foreign oil

Currently used to feed livestock or as a Currently used to feed livestock or as a groundcover to control erosiongroundcover to control erosion

Scientists work to genetically modify Scientists work to genetically modify switchgrass to make it more promising as a switchgrass to make it more promising as a biofuelbiofuel

Opponents concerned switchgrass will be Opponents concerned switchgrass will be overgrown and grown in non-native areas overgrown and grown in non-native areas

Benefits of SwitchgrassBenefits of Switchgrass

ResourcesResources

Halliwell-Phillipps, J.O. (1849). Halliwell-Phillipps, J.O. (1849). Popular rhymes and nursery tales. Popular rhymes and nursery tales. John Russell Smith: London. John Russell Smith: London.

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bedlad25.htmlhttp://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bedlad25.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefoliumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearberryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearberry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_White_Pinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_White_Pine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha

http://www.easywildflowers.com/http://www.easywildflowers.com/

http://www.wildflower.org/http://www.wildflower.org/