Acer negundo -L.-
box elder


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Acer negundo -L.-

Common Name: box elder

Myaamia Name: šiihšiikweekihsi

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Undetermined

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Beech-Maple Forest, Oak Forest including Oak-Hickory, Beech-Oak-Maple Mixed Mesophytic, Human-Disturbed Areas

Uses: Medicinal

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"A decoction was made from it by these [Myaamia] Indians."

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Box elder (shishikwä́ksi) makes poor sugar.

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data:

Occurs on moist, especially alluvial soils throughout eastern and western Myaamia lands

Comments: N/A

Rafert, S. 1989

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

A medicinal plant, not used by Lamoine or others he knew, but talked about. "Used in the case of wounds, or something like that".

Comments: N/A

Anonymous 1724

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"The root and bark of elder for a person falling in his limbs; it is necessary to boil it and to put it in a little bit of soup, drinking about a pint" ("De la racine et Ecois de Sureau pour une personae perelus de ses members, il faut la faire bouiller et y mettre un peu de potage, en boire environ chopine").

Comments: This source describes indigenous customs from upper Midwest, probably including some of the Miami-Illlinois tribal groups. – Michael Gonella

No sources entered.

No sources entered.

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.