Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants: A Historical Survey with Special Reference to the Eastern Indian Tribes

by Charlotte Erichsen-Brown

Spanning the last 500 years, this exceptionally detailed and well-researched guide focuses primarily on the ways North American Indians have used plants, trees, and shrubs for medicine, food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. The plants considered are native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, although some are also found as far south as Florida and Texas and as far west as the Pacific coast.
In addition to extensive chronological historical citations dealing with documented usages of plants as far back as the fourteenth century, this book also provides data to enable even amateur botanists to identify plants in the field. Thus, accounts of herbalists, explorers, botanists, doctors, and scientists are accompanied by useful information about the plant’s range, common and scientific names, nontechnical physical description and more. To make the book especially easy to use, plants are grouped according to wet open places, woods and thickets, and dry open places. Moreover, a detailed line drawing of the plant’s leaves, buds, twigs, seeds, and other characteristic features accompanies the textual descriptions.
Scholarly, yet readable, exceptionally thorough but never dull, this classic reference belongs in the library of botanists, naturalists, herbalists, ethnologists, archaeologists — anyone interested in the long and fascinating story of how plants have served humanity.
“Charlotte Erichsen-Brown is a noted and inspired student of the ethnobotany of eastern North America. She has completed a study of great imagination and energy. Whether on a library’s reference shelf or in a backpack along the trail, her work will inform and educate, and often amaze.” — J. L. Riley, Botany Department, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

544 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1989

Reviews

[Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered this book in the library in Nobleton, Ontario in about 2005. The edition they had at the library was the same book but under the old title of `Uses of Plants for the Past 500 Years'.
There was a newspaper clipping cut out and taped into the copy which stated that the author had passed away in 2002 and was from King City which is very close to Nobleton.
I borrowed the book and at first didn't know what to make of it. I had just started to research the native plants and trees in my area and unlike other field guides Ms. Erichsen-Brown's book seemed to have much input from various sources and sometimes it was conflicting. As the new title suggests: it is a historical survey.
Since the old title didn't really make that clear right away and since I was new at the uses of wild plants I really didn't know what to make of it.
After some time passed, however, as my knowledge and understanding in the uses of plants and trees grew I started to understand this book for what it was: It was the input from countless sources of their experience with each plant and tree referenced.
I began to understand how to glean from the various sources a good idea of what the true properties of the plants and trees were by reading all their accounts. I would also locate and investigate the plants and trees in the wild as the book is about the exact region I lived in.

[Belle Meade School]

581.61097

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable guide to useful plants. Most every entry includes selections from historical writings that mentioned or specified the plant in question. There are many selections from Culpepper's famous Herbal from the 1600s as well as notes made by missionaries and explorers who were the first to record the native uses. Brilliant.

[Charleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far more information than I needed, but very impressive. Well organized, with sections for trees, shrubs, vines, and plants by habitat. Includes a line drawing of the plant, a brief description, and then oodles of historical references of its uses.

[Marilynn Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

fabulous...lists individual plant uses chronologically