Rubus allegheniensis -T.C. Porter-
common blackberry


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Rubus allegheniensis -T.C. Porter-

Common Name: common blackberry

Myaamia Name: makiinkweemina

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Undetermined

Uses: Food, Medicinal

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

The Miami terms "makĭñgwämĭna" and "makĭñgwäminikĭ" (plural form) are the words for blackberry.

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"makĭñgwämĭna, blackberry"

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"The Indian remedy for asthma was a mixture of raspberry and blackberry juice in which leaves from the hoarhound and spearmint had been boiled".

Comments: N/A

Gravier, J. ca. 1700

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"making8eminiki, meure de haye", blackberry

Comments: N/A

Aatotankiki myaamiaki 1998-2006

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Barbara Mullin's recipe, used by Senecas and Quapaws and possibly other tribes local to the Miami, Oklahoma area, used blackberries or blueberries and cornmeal to make a traditional, southern style cornbread.

Comments: N/A

Rafert, S. 1989

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Fruits eaten.

Comments: N/A

Tulsa World Newspaper 2003

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Due to lead, cadmium and zinc contamination in the Tar Creek Superfund Site's watershed, around Miami, Oklahoma and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's headquarters, Miami and other local tribal members worry that traditional gathering of food, medicine and other items may be contaminated. Fish, wild blackberries, sassafras, pokeweed, basket-making supplies and wild onions could have high concentrations of lead, as do the waters of nearby lakes, and it is not always successful keeping tribal members out of these areas. The Seneca-Cayuga's berry dance could not be held, if all the wild blackberries and strawberries in the area are found to be contaminated.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Used for jelly by Peggy's grandmother Geboe.

Comments: N/A

Olds, J., Olds, D. and D. Tippman 1999

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

The root was used to treat diarrhea.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Gathered early in the morning.

Comments: N/A

Tippman, D. 1999

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Wild blackberries picked.

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

In the traditional story of Young Thunder William Pecongah, he describes the crops he had growing on his land 160 acres of reserve in central Indiana.  "There I planted corn, wheat, potatoes, peas, tobacco, beans, apple trees, pumpkins, watermelons, cucumbers, onions, hay, straw, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, turnips, tomatoes, pawpaws, cherries, strawberries, plums, blackhaws, peaches, walnut trees, pecans, hickory nuts, barley and rye".

Comments: N/A

Anonymous 1837

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Blackberries mentioned.

Comments: N/A

Kerr, J. 1835

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

 "mekexuemeneke, blackberries"

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Occurs on mostly in disturbed areas throughout eastern Myaamia lands, with closely related or hybrids occuring in western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Rubus taxonomy is complex, confused by hybridization, polyploidy and asexual reproduction, and the group of blackberry species is even less clear. According to Coulter (1899), Small (1903), Steyermark (1963), and Gleason and Cronquist (1991).  It is reasonable to assume that the Myaamia word for blackberry referred to either R. allegheniensis, which was and is very common, or one of less common species including R. orarius, R. argustus, R. canadensis, R. pensilvanicus or R. setosus, or all these Rubus species.

Comments: N/A

Clark, J.E 1993

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Shawnee collected this plant

Comments: N/A

Bush L. L. 2003

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Archaeological studies have demonstrated that blackberries were utilized as a food resource by Late Woodland (800 A.D to 1450 A.D.) indigenous peoples of central and  southern Indiana.

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.