Ulmus rubra -Muhl.-
slippery elm, red elm


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Ulmus rubra -Muhl.-

Common Name: slippery elm, red elm

Myaamia Name: ašaahšikopa

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Undetermined

Uses: Material, Customs

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Rafert, S. 1989

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

A pigeon trap was made from a wooden frame with [possibly slippery elm] bark nets.

Comments: N/A

Rafert, S. 1989

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

Fishnet baskets were made for use at weirs in historic times. "Before the commerical nets they made a basket net, which was out of bark, mostly elm bark. It was the inner bark of the elm tree, the slippery elm tree, which was the red elm tree, and it was a type of net, more in the shape of a basket. Thats what they used at the weir", and "Now you could be surprised what a thin net you can make out of elm bark. Elm bark, that was a basket maker, as well as hickory and white oak. But they made a real fine net out of elm bark . . . Ive heard the old people talk about it. It was flexible. The elm bark can be ripped down and pared down until its quite thin, its almost like a cloth, see, when they get through with it. And they wasnt as open as a woven net would be, but it was fairly so, enough that water would pass through it . . . "

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"Red elm leaves were crushed and used as a poultice  for rattlesnake bites. The medicinal value of this remedy would probably be scoffed at by most present-day doctors. Even they, however, recognize the psychological effect of such things".

Comments: N/A

Bush, L. L 1996

Reference Type: Use - Material

Archival Data:

Human-charred slippery elm timbers were recovered from an excavation at an early 19th century Myaamia village site at the forks of the Wabash River (Fort Wayne), 1795-1812 (Ehler Site).

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

Slippery elm bark use was used to cover lodges, wigwams, houses. The word for roof is paxkwani,  is very similar.

Comments: N/A

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Archives

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

A slippery elm tree was originally growing in the yard of the Drake House, one of the original Miami allotment houses in Miami, Oklahoma. The tree was described by Teddy Drake as "big, tough (good for sores)".

Comments: N/A

Cranbrook Institute of Science 2003

Reference Type: Use - Technology

Archival Data:

A miniature sap trough made from elm [slippery or american] bark is housed at the Cranbrook Institute.  This item was obtained by M.G. Chandler, near Kokomo, Indiana around 1920, from a descendant of Meshingomesia.

Comments: N/A

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database 2006

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data :

Leaves of the slippery elm are sandpapery and the inner bark of the twigs are red/rust colored, slightly fragrant and mucilaginous. This tree exists in and out of wetlands in eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

Rafert, S. 1989

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

An ancient fishing weir [weirs made of slippery elm bark] dam still exists on the Wabash River, northeast of Peru, Indiana and was and is known to most Miami fishermen. Lamoine Marks was told about it when he was a boy, by his father Charlie, and last saw it while fishing in winter in 1953. Rafert and Marks rediscovered it in July, 1988. This weir dam is described in Outdoor Indiana, July/August 1989.

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"cacikopa, slippery elm tree, i.e. slimy"

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Slippery elm was used for unspecified purpose.

Comments: N/A

Burns, N.L. 1938

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

The Peoria of Oklahoma cut up the tender shoots of hackberry, elm and poplar for cattle fodder.

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Slippery or white elm, refering to the bark.

Comments: N/A

Whitford, A. C. 1941

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Fibers of slippery elm used to make woven fabrics by the Hopewell [centered in what is now southern Ohio, with related groups in Indiana and other midwestern states, from 200 bce to 500 ce].

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.