Hierochloe odorata -(L.) P. Beauv.-
sweetgrass


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Hierochloe odorata -(L.) P. Beauv.-

Common Name: sweetgrass

Myaamia Name:

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Spring

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Conifer Shrubland and Forest, Conifer Swamp some deciduous domts.

Uses: Medicinal, Customs

Locations: Liebert Property

Sources

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

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

Sweetgrass was used for smoking, like cedar:  "that's the only thing she ever used it for, kind of a purifying, just like we used cedar" ". . . it was just loose and she'd just tied a string around it. I didn't see any in Oklahoma. She got that whenever she came back here [Indiana]. If they came back here to visit or something why then she'd come back with some of that. And she would just . . .set it on the stove sometimes, you know, we had a wood stove and she'd put it on the top of that like she did cedar. And I guess it was medicine as far as it purified the air and everything. It made a smoke. Yeah, just like the cedar does".

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Horticultural Info

Archival Data:

The sweet grass with the red stem was preferred.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

Sweetgrass is braided like a mother's hair, representative of mother earth.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Customs

Archival Data:

The current Miami Nation drum has tobacco and sweetgrass tied all around the Nation drum. Gary's personal habit is to tie a sweetgrass turtle to the drum. The use of sweetgrass with the drum was learned from the Ojibway.

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 [purposes] . . . there was some sweetgrass mixed with the combination of sage and tobacco uh and the cedar".

Comments: N/A

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Archives

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

A component of a medicine bag:  "cedar is like a purification, um, the sweet grass . . . corn all of those have a something, I'm not sure what they all are. Its just medicine. Everything you would need to sustain you here or here after, is that little tiny portion, is in that bag".

Comments: N/A

Deam, C. 1940

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data:

Sweet grass was listed as occuring in the northern portion of Indiana at the time of pubilcation of Deam's flora.

Comments: N/A

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database 2006

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Occurs in Canada, New England and Virginia, but no longer in eastern (Indiana region) or western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

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 Miami. 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.