Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region

by Melvin R. Gilmore

A classic of ethnobotany, Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region has been enlarged for this Bison Book edition with thirty drawings, by Bellamy Parks Jansen, of plants discussed by Gilmore. The taxonomic glossary has been updated as well. Readers will find here, conveniently described, the uses that Plains Indians made of the wild plants they collected and of those plants they cultivated for food, clothing, medicine, and ornamentation. This fascinating book, originally published in 1919, reveals cultures that evolved in close harmony with their environment.

 

Genres: Nonfiction

125 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1977

Reviews

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a course textbook when I was an undergraduate at Oglala Lakota College. It was excellent.

[Eric Farnsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine collection of plants used by the tribes of the American central plains, centering on Nebraska. Including native names and meanings of those names. This book first appeared in 1914, as a collection of information from native elders who had lived before the mass relocation to Oklahoma.

From the original introduction: "The people of the European race in coming to the New World have not really sought to make friends of the native population, or to make adequate use of the plants or the animals indigenous to this continent, but rather to exterminate everything found here and to supplant it with the plants and animals to which they were accustomed at home."

I got it via inter-library loan from Hutchinson, Kansas.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely of it's time but quite interesting. The author is already pointing out the folly of attempts to turn America into a mini Europe instead of adapting to the local plants.