In Chippewa, Wi’gwass’tig. White Birch is sometimes called Paper Birch or Canoe Birch after two of its many utilizations. Are you curious How the Birch Tree Got It’s Burns? Click that link for the Ojibwe legend. Then the caption on the photo to the left will make sense. Edible Uses The twigs and leaves make […]
Tag Archives: Astringent
Common burdock – Arctium minus
In Chippewa, Wiisagibag meaning bitter leaf, also Wiisagijiibik meaning bitter taproot and Gi’ masan meaning big stickers. Burdock’s folk names are predominately along the lines of burr-this or that-burr, like burrseed for instance. Which is questionable – it’s the part of the plant used the least. And if you’ve been playing along, you know I […]
Red clover – Trifolium pratense
If you know any words in our local language (Anishinaabemowin) for Red clover, please comment! My favorite folk name for red clover is honey/honey-stalks, but it isn’t just honey bees that like this honey. Mammals like opossum, snowshoe hare, eastern chipmunk, raccoon, striped skunk, and white-tailed deer are buzzing about it. And birds like ring-necked […]
Common mullein – Verbascum thapsus
In Anishinaabemowin, mullein is sometimes calledWaabooyaanibag (blanket leaf) Mullein’s folk names include but are not limited to flannel leaf (leaves stuffed in shoes for warmth), tinder plant/torches/torch-wort, candle wick (dried stems used to be dipped in wax to make candles), cow’s lungwort. It’s been called tobacco going off the physical resemblance. Wearing it is said […]