Quercus alba -L.-
white oak


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Quercus alba -L.-

Common Name: white oak

Myaamia Name: waawaapinkwaahkatwi

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Undetermined

Uses: Medicinal, Material

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Lamb, E.W. and Shultz, L.W 1964

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

The bark was soaked in water then used on burns.

Comments: N/A


Lamb, E.W. and Shultz, L.W 1964

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"For burns, the remedy was bark from the white oak (Quercus alba) which had been soaked in water. This would be tannic acid and is actually our accepted remedy for burns. We buy tannic acid in powder form from drug stores or get it directly from doctors".

Comments: N/A


Bush, L. L 1996

Reference Type: Use - Material

Archival Data:

Human-charred white oak timbers, used in construction, were recovered from an early 19th century Myaamiavillage site at the forks of the Wabash River.

Comments: N/A


Anonymous 1724

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"The bark or the root of the white oak boiled for wounds. The leaf of the same wood is also perfectly good" ("De l'ecorce ou de la Racine de Chesne blanc bouilly pour les playes ce feuille du meme bois est aussy parfaitement bonne").

Comments: The author is describing tribal customs from the upper Midwest, probably including some of the Miami-Illlinois tribal groups. – Michael Gonella

Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Occurs in upland woods in eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

Costa, D. 2005

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"8a8iping8kat8i", white oak

Comments: N/A


Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"wawapingakatwi, white oak tree"

Comments: N/A


Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"wewipingwakki, white oak", weepinkwaahki

Comments: N/A


Thwaites, R.G. (ed.) 1903

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"The Oak is so good, that I believe it exceeds ours for building Ships."

Comments: This record probably referred to the fact that the oaks encountered by the Europeans in North America in the 1600-1700s were much larger than those of Europe (Gonella field note: personal communication with George Ironstrack, 2006). – Michael Gonella


Trowbridge, C. 1824-5

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"waupingwauhkautaa, white oak"

Comments: N/A


Trowbridge, C. 1824-5

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"kaaoohkungk nonee weepingwauhkart, it has blown down that white oak"

Comments: N/A


Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

The Miami-Illinois term for the nut of an acorn, is alakaya.

Comments: N/A

Legends

  • L.: L. stands for Carl Linneaus, a Swedish botanist and zoologist living from 1707 - 1778, who formed the binomial nomenclature system for scientific naming of species (the two part name). His initial after a scientific name indicates he was the authority for that species name.
  • sp.: Indicates the actual species name cannot or need not be specified. Example: Lilium sp. indicates a single species in the genus Lilium that is not known or does not need to be specified.
  • spp.: (plural) indicates "several species", two or more species of the given genus. Example: Lilium spp. indicates 2 or more species in the genus that cannot or do not need to be distinguished.
  • Use - Unknown: A record for this plant exists but does not include explicit information about the plant's cultural use. It is probable the Myaamia used the plant.
  • Botanical Sources: Sources of any botanical data for this plant species that is not related to its cultural use or significance.
  • Related Sources: Data indirectly related to Myaamia ethnobotany, including non-Myaamia uses of the plant in contemporary and historic times.
  • Myaamia Archival Sources: All records of plant use obtained directly from a Myaamia tribal member in an interview, recorded by a second party or by self-recording.
  • Undetermined (Plant Use): There exists use or other information about a certain, unknown plant species, but the specific species has not yet been determined.
  • Medicinal: For the purposes of this database, medicinal uses of plants and medicinal knowledge are defined as: Commonly held communal knowledge regarding the use of plant-based substances that aid in maintaining a healthy mind, body or spirit, including tonics and teas.
  • Technology: For the purposes of this database, technological uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in the making of food processing, canoes, rafts, dyes, tools, utensils, weapons, hunting and fishing gear (i.e. net, weir, etc.), cordage, string, rope, fodder plant species, firewood, any plants used in trade, etc.
  • Material: For the purposes of this database, material uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in construction of dwellings (floor mats, roofing, side walls), furniture, baskets, storage items, musical instruments, games, crafts, jewelry, cordage used in crafts, etc.
  • Food: For the purposes of this database, food uses of plants are defined as: Plants used as consumed food, spices and seasonings, but not teas or tonics.
  • Customs: For the purposes of this database, customary uses of plants are defined as: Plants involved in a customary ceremony, ritual or traditional event, including ritual smoking, chewing tobacco, war rituals, special mats used to sit on during ceremonies. Customary uses of plants, in this database, does not including plants used for recreation (material), structures where ceremonies take place (material) or medicinal smoking (medicinal).
  • Eastern Myaamia Lands: Eastern Myaamia lands (eastern myaamionki) are centered around northern Indiana, and including western Ohio, eastern Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northernmost portions of Kentucky.
  • Western Myaamia Lands: Western Myaamia lands (western myaamionki) include western Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.