Salvia apiana -Jeps.-
white sage


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Salvia apiana -Jeps.-

Common Name: white sage

Myaamia Name:

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Undetermined

Uses: Food, Medicinal, Customs

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

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

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Branches and leaves were hung dry and possibly used for cooking.

Comments: N/A

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Archives

Reference Type: Use - Customs/Medicinal

Archival Data:

The chief smokes a sick person for healing: "the smoking ceremony we think it kind of purifies us  . . . If you're sick or anything the chief will come out and smoke you which we feel like it helps you get well . . .we use to make the smoke is cedar and cedar is a cleanser . . green cedar to get more smoke, we use tobacco, tobacco is a purifier and then we use sage and its for medicinal [probably white sage, currently used by many tribes for similar purposes] . . . there was some sweetgrass mixed with the combination of sage and tobacco uh and the cedar".

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

Used to smudge drum and singer, along with tobacco. Also placed in graves during a funeral.

Comments: White sage was not used historically, but sweet everlasting instead (personal communication between Gonella and Baldwin, Nov. 20, 2006). – Michael Gonella

Hickman. J.C. 1993

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data:

Native to arid and semi-arid areas of western U.S.; not native in Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

No sources entered.

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Only two plants, wild tobacco and red cedar, were used traditionally as ceremonial plants by the Myaamis. Contemporary uses of other plants in ceremonies, including white sage Salvia apiana, from western U.S. and sweetgrass, Hierochloe odorata, have been acquired often from the pan-Indian movement of modern times.

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.