Entry Detail


black-eyed susan, bachelor's button


Entry Type:  
Species
Scientific Name:  
Common Name:  
black-eyed susan, bachelor's button
Myaamia Name:  
mahkateewiciiphkiki

Media 
Media not available.
Myaamia Archival Sources  
Reference Source Reference Type Archival Data Comments
Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895 Description

Gatschet describes the plant as "a weed 2 to 3 feet high with yellow berries or buttons".

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895 Use - Customs

Used to protect against bad spirits or witches: "carried in pocket as charm against spirit or witches".

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895 Use - Medicinal

Used to treat coughs and sore throats.

Steyermark, J.A. 1963 Description

Steyermark remarks that Rudbeckia hirta var. homochroma has yellow disk as well as ray flowers. The dense, compact cone of yellow disk flowers could be what Gatschet describes as a yellow "berry".

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900 Description

"I have not seen this plant but imagine that it is Rudbeckia hirta, as the Indian said "the Whites call it bachelor's button, because a button grows on the top, which is in the midst of a brown flower. The stalks are from two to three feet tall".

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900 Use - Customs

Roots are used to protect from bad spirits. "makkatewitchipkiki or makatewi tchipkiki", the medicine was "rubbed on a gun-barrel, and then fired at any strange noise which they suspected to be made by spirits . . . serving as a charm or amulet, small pieces of the root are carried in the pocket and keep off spirits, witches, etc., a practice which is now obsolete among Peoria. Whites call it "Bachelor's button" and grows here on the Peoria Reservation".

 

Botanical Sources  
Reference Source Reference Type Data Comments
Small, J.K. 1903 Habitat 

Occurs in many habitats, including open woods, roadsides and fields, throughout eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Related Sources  
Reference Source Reference Type Data Comments
Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991  

Rudbeckia hirta is considered R. serotina in some sources.