Names

Shoshone:

English: Black Cottonwood (Balsam)

Scientific: Populus balsamifera

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Not Listed

Primary Uses

• Food
  • Tea
• Medicine
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-fever
  • Headache
  • Pneumonia 
  • Teeth
  • Wounds

Secondary Uses

• Other
  • Music

Cautions

• None Currently Listed

Active Principle(s)

• Salicylic Acid

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Bark can be made into a tea for generalized pain, or buds can be mixed into buffalo fat to be rubbed into skin cracks and wounds. 

Medicinal Use Notes

Bark and buds: contain salicylic acid which is a pain reliever that can be used for headaches, fevers, tooth pain, etc. 

Tree trunks can also be hollowed out for use in a drum base.

Names

Shoshone: wee.yahm.p

English: Black Hawthorn

Scientific: Crateagus douglasii

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• None Listed

Primary Uses

• Food
  • Tea
• Medicine
  • Eyes
  • Heart 
  • Throat

Secondary Uses

• Other
  • Smoking

Cautions

• None Listed

Active Principle(s)

• Oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC, anti-oxidant)

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Tea made from berries to treat macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and sore throat/colds.

Medicinal Use Notes

Tea made from berries to treat macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and sore throat/colds.

Thorns use as awls for sewing tough hides

Names

Shoshone:
doy.yah.gwee.choom.boe.gah

English: Curly Cup Gumweed

Scientific: Grindelia squarrosa

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Not listed

Primary Uses

• Medicine
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Allergy
  • Antiviral

Secondary Uses

• Medicine
  • Lungs
  • Muscle Tone 
  • Pneumonia
  • Stings

Cautions

• None Listed

Active Principle(s)

• None Listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

None listed 

Medicinal Use Notes

Resin can be rubbed on mosquito bites, bee stings, spider bites, etc. The flower is anti-inflammatory. Sued to create herpes viruses and shingles. Bronchio-dialator that can assist with breathing for pneumonia and allergies. Helps build muscle tissue. Can be used ceremonially- smudging will keep away ghosts. 

Names

Shoshone: doe.rahm.p

English: Chokecherry

Scientific: Prunus virginiana

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Not listed
• Can be found in canyons and along rivers.

Primary Uses

• Food
  • Tea
• Medicine
  • Anti-Cancer
  • Cough
  • Heart 
  • Throat
  • Vitamin C

Secondary Uses

• Medicine
  • Sore throat/cough

Cautions

• None Currently Listed

Active Principle(s)

• Vitamin C
• Proanthocyanidins (cardiovascular health)
• Nitrilocide

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Inner bark can be made into a tea for sore throat/cough.

Berries can be made into gotsup gravy. 

Medicinal Use Notes

Seed paste can be applied to skin cancers and tumors. Also contain nitrilocide which is an anti-cancer agent

Good for cardiovascular maintenance. 

Names

Shoshone:

English: “Silver” Buffalo Berry

Scientific: Shepherdia argentea

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• After 1st freeze (September)

Primary Uses

• None Listed

Secondary Uses

• None Listed

Cautions

None listed

Active Principle(s)

• None listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Berries are edible and citrus-like. 

Medicinal Use Notes

None listed

Names

Shoshone:

English: Stoneseed

Scientific: Lithospermum sp

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Found amongst sagebrush

Primary Uses

• Medicine
  • Contraceptive

Secondary Uses

• Other
  • Jewelry

Cautions

• An overdose can cause permanent sterility in men and women.

Active Principle(s)

• None Listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Medicinal Use Notes

• Stoneseed disallows implantation of a fertilized egg.
• Crow name means “abortion plant”

Names

Shoshone:

English: Amaranth

Scientific: Amaranthus retroflexus

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Grown in mouths of canyons
• Disturbed soils

Primary Uses

• Food
  • Salads
  • Popped
  • Bread

Secondary Uses

• None Listed

Cautions

• None Listed

Active Principle(s)

• None Listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Leaves and stems are used in stews, and leaves make very nutritious tea. Before flowering, stems can be used as a soup thickener. 

Medicinal Use Notes

Greens: Used in salads

Seeds: Can be popped like popcorn or added to bread- high in protein 

Names

Shoshone:

English: Showy Milkweed

Scientific: Asclepius speciosa

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

• Early Spring

Primary Uses

• Medicine
  • Heart injuries
  • Dissolve warts, moles, and skin tags

Secondary Uses

• Medicine
  • Vitamin C
  • Skin

Cautions

• White sap is poisonous to eat without boiling

Active Principle(s)

• None Listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Medicinal Use Notes:

Sap: contains latex which can be used medicinally to recover from heart injuries. Also contains wahbane which is toxic and slows the heart. Latex can be used as poison on arrows, to pre-digest meat; or to dissolve warts, moles, and skin tags.