Nelumbo lutea- Willd.-
American lotus, water chinquapin


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Nelumbo lutea- Willd.-

Common Name: American lotus, water chinquapin

Myaamia Name: poohkhšikolia

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Spring

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Wet Prairie grasslands with flooding

Uses: Food

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Burton, C., Stevens, B. 1915

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"They gather these roots in the marshes. They are as big as an arm. They make a hole in the ground in which they make a bed of fire-reddened stones, then one of leaves, one of macopin, one of reddened stones and so forth up to the top which they cover with earth and their roots sweat inside there for two or three days after which they have them boiled and eat alone or with oil. It is a rather good food, provided they are well cooked, which one can know by the color, which must be red. On the contrary they are whitish if they are not cooked enough, and then they grab the mouth so cruelly, on the palate, in the throat that one cannot swallow any. They can be kept in a dry state for a long time."

Comments: This record could refer to Nelumbo lutea or Nuphar, but probably not Nymphaea (the three aquatic tubers that are edible) because the latter has tubers that are more like a hen's egg than an arm. – Michael Gonella

Kinietz, V. 1938

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"poakshikwileearkee, which means 'hollow root' is similar in size to the white water lily, and grows in the same place--wet prairies. It is boiled with meat or eaten raw, as opposed to white water lily (macopines) and is said to be very good to eat".

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"This plant is plainly Nelumbium luteum - the American lotus, yellow water-lily, water chinquepin, wankapin or yoncopin. Sarah Wadsworth informed me that the common mode of its preparation by the Miami women was to gather the roots (tubers), soak them in lye to loosen the skin, and then peel and boil them. The seeds were likewise soaked in lye, and shelled. Of these they made soup or cooked them as desired. The Miami name of the plant is "pokcikwalyaki" i.e. full of holes, or nostrils, which will be appreciated by those who are familiar with the plant".

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"the word makopin is not used by the Miamis. It is understood to have been the name given to the water chinkapin, nelumbo lutea, commonly known as the yoncopin or wankapin--the pokekoretch of Nicolas Perrot's memoir. The Miamis call this pokcikwalyaki, i.e. full of holes. They used this to eat the roots of this, and make soup of the seeds".

Comments: N/A

Blair, E 1911

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data:

"It has the appearance of a root, about half as thick as ones arm, or a little more; it also has firm flesh, and externally resembles an arm; in one word, you would say at sight of these roots that they are great radishes. But cut it across the two ends, and it is no longer the same thing; for you find inside it a cavity in the middle, extending throughout its length around which are five or six other smaller cavities, which also run from end to end". "The shape (of the dry top) is like a crown, of red color; it is as large as the bottom of a plate, and is full of seeds in every way resembling hazelnuts;" "The Miami name is pok'-ci-kwal-ya'-ki, i.e. full of holes, or nostrils".

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. 1919

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"they dig . . . a certain root . . . only found in the Louisiana country, some fifty leagues above (below) the mouth of the Wisconsin".

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. 1919

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"Also in winter they dig from under the ice, or where there is much mud and little water, a certain root, of better quality than that which I have just mentioned, but it is only found in the Louisiana country, some fifteen leagues above the entrance to the Ouisconching [Wisconsin River]. The savages call this root, in their own language, pokekoretch, and the French give it no other name, because nothing at all resembling it is seen in EuropeThe women gather this root, and recognize it by the dried stem, which appears sticking up above the ice".

Comments: N/A

Dunn, J.P. 1919

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data:

"pokicorewaki, hollow roots"; "micopena, large root in the water"; "apena, pl. apeniki, potatoes"; wicapisia, root for guarding themselves from death from serpents that they fear. The bulb is white, and rises out of the ground. The stem is a foot high, the leaves of four ribs (or on four sides), and a little red button on the top".

Comments: N/A

Small, J.K. 1903

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data:

Occurs in streams, floodplains, ponds and other still waters in eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

Pease, T. C. and R. C. Werner 1934

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data :

“They gather also in these same marshes [as the macopines] other roots which are as big as one's arm and which are all full of holes. These give them no trouble to prepare; they merely cut them into pieces half as thick as one's wrist, string them, and hang them to dry in the sun of in the smoke" ("Elles prennent encore dans ces memes marests d'autres Racines qui sont Grosses comme le bras, qui sont toutes remplies de toux, celles la ne leur donnent point de peines a aprester elles les Coupent seulement par morceaux gros comme la moitie du poignent les Enfilent et les mettent Secher au soleil ou a la fumee").

Comments: N/A

Pease, T. C. and R. C. Werner 1934

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data :

“This root has large leaves that spread out on the water, like what we call votets, but they are much larger. Between two of these leaves issues something shaped like the body of a drinking-glass in which are the seeds, which are as big as hazelnuts.”

Comments: N/A

Blair, E 1911

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data :

“To eat it, you must cook it over a brazier, and you will find that it tastes like chestnuts. The savages are accustomed to make provision of this root; they cut it into pieces and string them on a cord, in order to dry them in the smoke. When these pieces are thoroughly dry, and as hard as wood, they put them into bags and keep them as long as they wish. If they boil their meat in a kettle, they also cook therein this root, which thus becomes soft and, when they wish to eat, it answers for bread with their meat . . . when these [seeds from the dried top] are roasted under hot cinders they taste just like chestnuts.”

Comments: N/A

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

Reference Type: Description

Archival Data :

Aquatic plant with fragrant, pale yellow flowers on stalks above water and long-stalked leaves above or floating on water surface.

Comments: N/A

Gravier, J. ca. 1700

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Gravier listed these Miami-Illinois terms as some type of white water onion or wild lotus: "cassicassireca8aki, 8abisipiniki" and "p8kwic8re8aki".

Comments: N/A

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

"poohk . . ", part of a Myaamia word lsited by Gatschet, potentially referencing the same plant.

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.