Quillwort

[techteach]

Hey Tom and Dovelady:

Something for you guys to try to find out. Did, and if so, how did, the native Americans use quillwort? I found an "Eastern Blackfoot Quillwort" that grows in the swamps of SE US (and interestedly where the Dakota and Lakota live, who speak a Siouan language).

Techteach

[Tom]

I found the Blackfoot Quillwort but lacking the eastern term.
Also what I did find was that the blackfoot refered to the base of the leaves, there maybe something more to this, certainly interesting.

[sammarroq]

Thanks for the post, I have been growing herbs for 15 or so years and have found sooo many interesting facts along the way. This Quillwort is a conundrum, I have found it is related to the Queen-of the-Meadow and the root has astringent and diuretic properties, root tea used for kidney trouble and to build women up during pregnancy; I have yet to tie it to a specific native culture. I would check with those cultures that lived in marshy areas as this plant thrives in marshy areas, and I am surprised it is here in Minnesota (I will have to keep my eye out for it). If anyone comes across some info on this plant, I would be interested.

Shirley

[techteach]

I googled it. One map shows it in SW Minnesota. In fact, I just found it interesting that a couple of maps designed to identify plant locations, put it where people who speak a Siouan language live. Likely means nothing, but it is fun to speculate, give that so many of us have the ID of Blackfoot. And it is supposed to be a SE plant that has been found where the Lakota and Dakota live.

Techteach

[sammarroq]

Funny how these things happen... My husband has gout on his left foot and asked if I could check my books and find something that could relieve the pain and swelling. Well, as it turns out Eupatorium Maculatum/Purpurem A.K.A Quillwort and other family members is a treatment for gout as well as other ailments. Just a tidbit of info:

Eupatorium purpureum - Sweet Joe Pye Weed

"Sweet Joe Pye Weed, Boneset, Gravel-root, Hempweed, Jopi Root, Jopi Weed, Kidney Root, King-of-the-Meadow, Queen-of-the-Meadow, Marsh Milkweed, Motherwort, Quillwort, Skunk Weed, Stink Weed, Trumpet Weed, Quillwort and others"

Asteraceae Family - Greek, from the name of the King of Pontus, Eupator and the Latin purpureum for "purple".

Found throughout the Tallgrass Region at the edge of wet places where woodlands open into thickets and marshes. Blooms from July through September on erect stems to ten feet tall. Occasionally, the green stem is mottled with purple that shades to a deep purple at the leaf joints. When crushed or dried, the stem and leaves give off a vanilla-like odor. Flowers are tiny and grow in dome-like clusters up 8 inches across. Flowers are creamy white to pale pink or pale purple. Short petals and long stamens give them a frilly appearance.

The astute reader will note that both E. maculatum and E. purpureum are called Joe Pye Weed. The main difference is in the flower heads with E. purpureum being more dome-shaped.

This plant is one of the great stories in Native American medicine. It is named after the east coast Native American, Joe Pye, a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who used the plant to cure fevers. Native Americans made a tea from the entire plant as a diuretic and for treating dropsy, painful urination, gout, kidney infections and rheumatism. It is still used in parts of Appalachia to treat urinary disorders. Some mothers bathed their fretful childdren in a tea made from Joe Pye Weed to calm them down and bring on a restful sleep. Meskwaki men would nibble the leaves of this plant to ensure success while wooing chosen tribal maidens. We cannot report on the success of this particular usage.

Shirley

[sammarroq]

Here are the links for the above info, many plant listing for anyone curious.

http://www.ionxchange.com/species_pages/e/eupatorium_maculatum.html
http://www.ionxchange.com/species_pages/e/eupatorium_purpureum.html

[Coharie Roy]

Sammarrog,

Cherry juice also works for gout.

[sammarroq]

Coharie,

Thanks for the tip, I will have him try it:) .

Shirley