Flora and Fauna of the Ochethi Sakowin (the "Great Sioux Nation")

The Ochethi Sakowin, the Seven Council Fires (or "Great Sioux Nation") identified the native species of flowers and plants of the Great Plains. The only difference between this guide and another guide about flowers and plants is that this one includes the flower or plant in the language of the ...more ↓

Waȟpé Tȟó (Blue Flower), Harebell

Campanula rotundifolia (harebell) is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. It has a circumpolar distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, from about latitude 40° N to about 70° N, extending in Europe from the north Mediterranean to the arctic.

Čhaŋzí (Yellow Tree), Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac, (also known as white sumac, upland sumac, or scarlet sumac) is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.

Čhaŋšúška (lit. "Sweet Sap"), or Boxelder Maple

Acer negundo is a species of maple native to North America. In Canada it is commonly known as Manitoba maple and occasionally as elf maple. Box elder, boxelder maple, ash-leaved maple, and maple ash are its most common names in the United States; in the United Kingdom and Ireland it is also known as ashleaf maple.

Tȟahálo (lit. "Green Rawhide"), or Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple, creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, large maple, water maple, swamp maple, or white maple—is a species of maple native to eastern and central North America in the eastern United States and Canada. It is one of the most common trees in the United States.

Čhaŋhásaŋ (lit. "Tree-bark White”), or Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum, the sugar maple or rock maple, is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of eastern Canada, from Nova Scotia west through Quebec and southern Ontario to southeastern Manitoba around Lake of the Woods, and the northern parts of the Central and Eastern United States, from Minnesota eastward to the highlands of the eastern states. Sugar ...more ↓

Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ Húȟla (Rattling-limb Hollow-stalk), or Common Evening-Primrose

Oenothera biennis (common evening-primrose, evening star, sun drop, weedy evening primrose, German rampion, hog weed, King's cure-all, or fever-plant.) is a species of Oenothera native to eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland west to Alberta, southeast to Florida, and southwest to Texas, and widely naturalized elsewhere in temperate and ...more ↓

Waȟčá Zí Čík’ala (Little Yellow Flower), or Yellow Sundrops

Calylophus serrulatus is a species of flowering plant in the Onagraceae known by the common name yellow sundrops. Other common names include halfshrub sundrop, serrate-leaved evening primrose, shrubby evening primrose, plains yellow primrose, and halfleaf sundrop. It is native to central North America, including central Canada and the ...more ↓

Uŋskúyečahu (Its Limb is Sweet for Us), Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa, the bur oak, sometimes spelled burr oak, is a species of oak in the white oak section Quercus sect. Quercus, native to North America in the eastern and central United States and eastern and central Canada. This plant is also called mossycup oak and mossycup white oak.

Ithúhu Čháŋ (Forehead Tree), or Black Oak

Quercus velutina, the eastern black oak or more commonly known as simply black oak, is a species in the red oak (Quercus sect. Lobatae) group of oaks. It is widespread in eastern and central North America, found in all the coastal states from Maine to Texas, inland as far as Ontario, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas.

Čhaŋhásaŋ (White Tree Bark), White Birch, or Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera (paper birch, also known as white birch and canoe birch) is a short lived species of birch native to northern North America. Paper birch is named due to the thin white bark which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk. Paper birch is often one of the first species to colonize a burned area within the northern latitudes and an ...more ↓

Úmahu (Hazelnut), or American Hazelnut

Corylus americana, the American hazelnut or American hazel, is a species of deciduous shrub in the genus Corylus, native to the eastern and central United States and extreme southern parts of eastern and central Canada.

Išpáŋšpaŋheča (It is Heated Within), Čhaŋmáza (Ironwood), or American Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana, the American hornbeam, is a small hardwood tree in the genus Carpinus. American hornbeam is also known as blue-beech, ironwood, and musclewood. It is native to eastern North America, from Minnesota and southern Ontario east to Maine, and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida. It also grows in Canada (southwest Quebec ...more ↓

Gmá (Walnut), Čhaŋsápa (Black Wood), or Eastern Black Walnut

Juglans nigra, the eastern black walnut, is a species of deciduous tree in the walnut family, Juglandaceae, native to eastern North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central Texas. Wild trees in the upper Ottawa Valley may be an isolated native population ...more ↓

Čhaŋsúhu (Seed Tree), Hickory, or Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata, the shagbark hickory, is a common hickory in the Eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is a large, deciduous tree, growing well over 100 ft (30 m) tall, and can live more than 350 years. The tallest measured shagbark, located in Savage Gulf, Tennessee, is over 150 ft (46 m) tall. Mature shagbarks are easy to recognize because, as their name implies, ...more ↓

Waȟpé Yazókapi (Flower They Lick [for its sweet nectar), Indian Paintbrush, or Downy Indian-Paintbrush

Castilleja sessiliflora is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common names downy Indian paintbrush and downy paintedcup. It is native to the Great Plains of North America from southern Canada, through the central United States, to northern Mexico. It occurs as far west as the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Pseȟtíŋ Čháŋ (Ash Tree), or Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica, the green ash or red ash, is a species of ash native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta and eastern Colorado, south to northern Florida, and southwest to Oklahoma and eastern Texas. It has spread and become naturalized in much of the western United States and also in Europe from Spain to ...more ↓

Igmú Tȟačhéyaka (Cats’ Mint), or Catnip

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, central Asia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. ...more ↓

Waȟpé Yatȟápi (lit. “Leaves To-chew”), or Lavender Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop; syn. Agastache anethiodora (Nutt.) Britton), commonly called anise hyssop, blue giant hyssop, Fragrant giant hyssop, or the lavender giant hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family, (Lamiaceae). This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America, ...more ↓

Heȟáka Tȟapȟéžuta (Elk Medicine), Heȟáka Tȟawóte (Elk Food), Waȟpé Waštémna (Fragrant Flower), or Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or ...more ↓

Čheyáka (Mint), Field Mint, or Corn Mint

Mentha arvensis, the corn mint, field mint, or wild mint, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It has a circumboreal distribution, being native to the temperate regions of Europe and western and central Asia, east to the Himalaya and eastern Siberia, and North America.Mentha canadensis, the related species, is also included in ...more ↓

Waȟpé Ičhíkȟoyagyaka (Flowers Caught Up Together), Waȟpé Čheyáka (Mint Leaf), or Virginia Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum, the Virginia or common mountain-mint, is a plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is a herbaceous plant with narrow, opposite, simple leaves, on wiry, green stems. The flowers are white with purplish spotting, borne in summer. Like most plants in the genus, the foliage has a strong mint fragrance when crushed or disturbed. It is native to ...more ↓

Wihúta Hú Iyéčheča (Stem which Appears like The-base-of-a-lodge), Greater Plantain

Plantago major (broadleaf plantain, white man's foot, or greater plantain) is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia, but has widely naturalised elsewhere in the world.

Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ Wapȟóštaŋ Káǧapi (Hollow-stalk to Make a Hat), or Woolly Plantain

Plantago patagonica is a species of plantain known by the common name woolly plantain. It is native to much of North America, including the southern half of Canada, the western and central United States, and northern Mexico, and parts of southern South America. It grows in many types of habitat, including grassland and woodlands. It is a hairy annual herb producing linear ...more ↓

Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ Ȟláȟla (Rattling Hollow-stalk), or Broadbeard Beardtongue

Penstemon angustifolius is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names broadbeard beardtongue and narrowleaf beardtongue. It is native to the west-central United States, including the Great Plains.

Wanáȟča Tȟotȟó (Blue Flower), Háŋpi Natȟópi (Wear Blue on Moccasins), Zuzéča Tȟapȟéžuta (Snake Medicine), Huŋkálowaŋpi Iyéčheča (Appears Like They Sing Over Them), or Narrow Beardtongue

Penstemon gracilentus is a species of penstemon known by the common names slender beardtongue and slender penstemon. It is native to the mountains and sagebrush plateau of northeastern California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon, where it grows in forest, woodland, and scrub habitat. It is a perennial herb producing upright branches to about 65 centimeters in ...more ↓

Kimímila Tȟawánaȟča (Flower of the Butterfly), or Large Beardtongue

Penstemon grandiflorus is a perennial plant of the genus Penstemon. Common names include large beardtongue.

Tȟókahu Wahíŋkpe Uŋ Zíyapi (Lit. “Enemy-stem Arrow Of Dyed-yellow”), Prickly Poppy, or Thistle Poppy

Argemone polyanthemos (crested pricklypoppy) is an annual plant with yellow sap and showy white flowers in the poppy family (Papaveraceae).:63 It can be found in areas with dry soil in most of the North American southwest.:63 Because of its prickly defenses, and acrid taste from its poisons, grazing animals tend to avoid it, so it increases in numbers compared to other ...more ↓

Pȟóge Očáŋčaŋ Pȟežúta (Medicine for a Stuffy Nose), or Goldenseal

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), also called orangeroot or yellow puccoon, is a perennial herb in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. It may be distinguished by its thick, yellow knotted rootstock. The stem is purplish and hairy above ground and yellow below ground where it connects to the yellow ...more ↓

Čhaŋíyuwe Skaská Naȟčá (White Blooming Flower Vine), Čhaŋíyuwi Owíčak'o (lit. “Vine Buzz-within-them”), Owíčak'ola Hú (lit. “Little-buzz-within-them Stem”), or Western Virgin's Bower

Clematis ligusticifolia is a climbing, spreading vine with showy flowers. It is also known as Old-man's Beard and Yerba de Chiva, and Virgin's bower, (though Old-man's Beard may also refer to C. vitalba, and Virgin's bower may also refer to C. lasiantha). It is native to North America where it is widespread across the western United States in ...more ↓

Hitȟúŋkala Tȟatȟúŋkče (Mice Feces), or Cylindrical Thimbleweed

Anemone cylindrica is an upright growing, clump forming herbaceous plant species in the genus Anemone and family Ranunculaceae. Plants grow 30–100 centimetres (12–39 in) tall, flowering early summer but often found flowering till late summer, the flowers are greenish-white. After flowering, the fruits are produced in a dense rounded columned spikes 20–35 millimetres ...more ↓

Hokšíčhekpa (Child’s Navel), Pasque Flower, or Prairie Crocus

Pulsatilla patens is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Russia, Mongolia, China, Canada and the United States. Common names include Eastern pasqueflower, prairie crocus, and cutleaf anemone.

Húte Zí (Yellow Root), or Oregon Grape

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon-grape or Oregon grape) is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 1.5 m (5 ft) wide, with pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, and dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries.

Tȟamníoȟpi Hú (Groundcherry Stem), or Clammy Groundcherry

Physalis heterophylla, colloquial name clammy groundcherry, is a herbaceous plant that is a member of the Solanaceae family. It is native to North America, occurring primarily in the eastern United States and Canada. It is known to occur in all contiguous states except for Nevada and California. It is found mainly in habitats such as dry or mesic prairies, gravel hills ...more ↓

Tȟamníoȟpi Hú (Groundcherry Stem), or Long-leaved Groundcherry

Physalis longifolia, known by the common names common groundcherry, longleaf groundcherry, and wild tomatillo, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is native to North America, where it is native to eastern Canada, much of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. It has also been noted as an introduced species in ...more ↓

Pȟežúta Niǧé Tȟáŋka (Big Stomach Medicine), or Bush Morning-Glory

Ipomoea leptophylla, the bush morning glory, bush moonflower or manroot, is a flowering plant species in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae.

Kimímila Tȟawánaȟča Čík’ala Psitȟóla Hú Iyéčheča (Resembles the Edible Bulb of the Butterfly’s Blossom), Creeping Jenny, or Field Bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis (field bindweed) is a species of bindweed in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), native to Europe and Asia. It is a climbing or creeping herbaceous perennial plant growing to 0.5–2 m high. There are two varieties:

Čhaŋískuye (Sweetness within the plant), Čhuŋwískuye (Sweetness within the Plant), or Honeysuckle

Honeysuckles (Lonicera, /lɒˈnɪsərə/; syn. Caprifolium Mill.) are arching shrubs or twining bines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. Approximately 180 species of honeysuckle have been identified. About 100 of these species can be found in China and approximately 20 native species have been identified in Europe, 20 in India, and 20 in North ...more ↓

Wazímniŋkpa Iyéčheča (It Looks Like the Tips Smell like Pine), or Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium (button eryngo, button snake-root, or rattlesnake master) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the parsley family native to the tallgrass prairies of central and eastern North America, from Minnesota east to Ohio and south to Texas and Florida, including a few spots in Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.

Čhaŋlí Ičáhiye (Tobacco Mixture), or Lovage

Lovage (/ˈlʌvɪdʒ/), Levisticum officinale, is a tall perennial plant, the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae.

Yažópi Hú (They Blow on the Stem like a Whistle), or Water Hemlock

Cicuta maculata is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by several common names, including spotted water hemlock, spotted parsley, spotted cowbane, and the suicide root by the Iroquois. It is native to nearly all of North America, from northern Canada to southern Mexico. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a hollow erect ...more ↓

Pȟaŋǧí Zizí (Yellow Tuber), or Queen Anne’s Lace

Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot, bird's nest, bishop's lace, and Queen Anne's lace (North America), is a white, flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe and southwest Asia, and naturalized to North America and Australia.

Waȟčá Zí Iyáwičhaskapa (Yellow Flower that Sticks to Them), Cous Biscuit Root, or Cous-Root Desert-Parsley

Lomatium cous (cous biscuitroot) is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. The root is prized as a food by the tribes of the southern plateau of the Pacific Northwest. Meriwether Lewis collected a specimen in 1806 while on his expedition....

Matȟó Tȟapȟéžuta (Bear Medicine), Bear Root, or Fernleaf Biscuitroot

Lomatium dissectum is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name fernleaf biscuitroot. It is native to much of western North America, where it grows in varied habitat. It is found in the eastern Transverse Ranges and the Sierra Nevada in California.

Šahíyela Tȟathíŋpsila Huzízi (Cheyenne Turnip with Yellow Stem), Waȟčá Zí Iyáwičhaskapa (Yellow Flower that Sticks to Them), Wild Parsley, or Carrotleaf Desert-Parsley

Lomatium foeniculaceum is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name desert biscuitroot. It is native to much of western and central North America, where it grows in many types of habitat.

Šahíyela Tȟathíŋpsila Hú (Cheyenne Turnip Stem), or Bigseed Biscuitroot

Lomatium macrocarpum is a perennial flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names bigseed lomatium, biscuit root or even bigseed biscuitroot. It is native to much of western North America, where it can be found in various types of habitat, including the grasslands of the Great Plains. It is spreading or erect perennial herb growing up to ...more ↓

Matȟó Tȟapȟéžuta (Bear Medicine), Bear Root, or Osha Root

Ligusticum porteri, known as Osha or oshá, is a perennial herb found in parts of the Rocky Mountains and northern Mexico, especially in the southwestern United States.

Yažópi Hú Čík’ala (lit. “They-play-on-[as a flute] Stem Little”), or Poison Hemlock

Conium maculatum, the hemlock or poison hemlock, is a highly poisonous biennial herbaceous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to Europe and North Africa. A hardy plant capable of living in a variety of environments, hemlock is widely naturalized in locations outside its native range.

Ápe Kalúlu (Fanning Leaves), or Small Mallow

Malva pusilla, also known as Malva rotundifolia (the latter of which is now officially rejected by botanists), the low mallow, small mallow, or the round-leaved mallow, is an annual and biennial herb species of the Mallow genus Malva in the family of Malvaceae. Malva is a genus that consists of about 30 species of plants. This genus ...more ↓

Pȟežúta Naŋtíažilya (Medicine for Smudging [Aches]), Purple Poppy Mallow, or Winecup Mallow

Callirhoe involucrata is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name purple poppy-mallow. It is native to the United States and northern Mexico.

Thewápa / Khewápa (Yellow Water Lily), or Yellow Water-Lily

Nuphar lutea, the yellow water-lily, or brandy-bottle, is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia.

Šákȟa Čháŋ (Uncooked Wood), or Balsam Poplar

Populus balsamifera, commonly called balsam poplar, bam, bamtree, eastern balsam-poplar, hackmatack, tacamahac poplar, tacamahaca, is a tree species in the balsam poplar species group in the poplar genus, Populus. The genus name Populus is from the Latin for poplar, and the specific epithet balsamifera from ...more ↓

Wáǧačhaŋ (Cottonwood), Waȟčhíŋča (Cottonwood), Čhaŋyáȟ’u (Peeling the Bark with One’s Teeth [as Deer do]), or Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides, the eastern cottonwood or necklace poplar, is a cottonwood poplar native to North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico. It is a eudicot.

Waȟpé Pȟópa Čháŋ (Tree of Popping Blossoms), or Peachleaf Willow

Salix amygdaloides, the peachleaf willow, is a species of willow native to southern Canada and the United States, from Quebec west to western British Columbia, southeast to eastern Kentucky, and southwest and west to Arizona and Nevada, respectively.

Čhokáŋ Waŋžíča Šašá (lit. “Middle One Very-red”), Hairy Willow, or Hoary Willow

Salix candida, also known as sageleaf willow, is a shrub in the Salicaceae family found in northern United States and Canada. It is 0.5 to 3.5 m tall.

Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ Nabláǧa (It Bursts Forth from within a Hollow Stem), Wild Blue Flax, or Perennial Flax

Linum perenne, the perennial flax, blue flax or lint, is flowering plant in the family Linaceae, native to Europe, primarily in the Alps and locally in England.

Apéla Tȟáphišlečala Iyéčheča (Leaves Shaped like a Spleen), Prairie Spurge, or Prairie Sandmat

Euphorbia missurica, commonly called prairie sandmat, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found primarily in area of the Great Plains. Its natural habitat is in dry, often calcareous areas, including glades, bluffs, and open woodlands.

Itóptasapa Tȟapȟéžuta (Medicine of the Black-Footed Ferret), Asáŋpi Pȟežúta (Medicine Milk), or Snow-on-the-Mountain

Euphorbia marginata (commonly known as snow-on-the-mountain, smoke-on-the-prairie, variegated spurge, or whitemargined spurge) is a small annual in the spurge family.

Waȟpé Ȟčaȟčá (Blooming Leaf), or Skunkweed

Croton texensis (common name "Texas croton", "skunk weed" "Doveweed"), is a plant found in the United States.

Šúŋkačhaŋkȟahúiphiye (Plant that Satisfies a Horse’s Sore Limbs), Marbleseed, or Soft-hair Marbleseed

Lithospermum bejariense, known by the common name western marbleseed, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family. It is native to the Southeastern United States, where it is in found rocky barrens and glades in calcareous areas. It is distinguished from other closely related Lithospermum by its flowers that are 1-2 cm long and its spreading 2-4 cm stem ...more ↓

Pȟežúta Waȟ’é Šá (Red Rough-like Medicine), Pȟežúta Hásapa (Black-Skin Medicine), or Hairy Puccoon

Lithospermum caroliniense is commonly known as the hairy puccoon or Carolina puccoon. It is found in the United States in the Midwest, around the Great Lakes, and through the Canadian provinces surrounding the Great Lakes. The plant grows in sandhills, pine barrens and dry, sandy woods.

Pȟežúta Sabsápa (Very Black Medicine), or Fringed Puccoon

Lithospermum incisum is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by several common names, including narrowleaf stoneseed, fringed gromwell, narrowleaf puccoon, and plains stoneseed. It is native to much of central Canada and the United States, where it is known from many types of habitat. It is a hairy perennial herb growing from a ...more ↓

Mniȟčáȟča (Water Flower), Thewápa / Khewápa (Water Lily), Lotus, or American Lotus

Nelumbo lutea is a species of flowering plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. Common names include American lotus, yellow lotus, water-chinquapin, and volée. It is native to North America. The Linnaean binomial Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) is the currently recognized name for this species, which has been classified under the former names Nelumbium ...more ↓

Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ Huwáŋžíla (Lit. “Hollow-stem limb of-one”), or Hairy Rockcress

Arabis hirsuta, known as hairy rock-cress, is a flowering plant of the genus Arabis in the family Brassicaceae. In previous North American works, it has been broadly defined to include plants native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of North America, but is now more often restricted to a narrower subgroup restricted to Europe.

Ziŋtkála Tȟawóte (Birds’ Food), or Common Peppergrass

Lepidium densiflorum is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names common pepperweed and prairie peppergrass.

Húŋtka Kȟáta (lit. "Stem-to-choke-on Hot"), Spring Cress, or Bulbous Cress

Cardamine bulbosa, commonly called bulbous bittercress, is a perennial plant in the mustard family. It is native to a widespread area of eastern North America, in both Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is moist soils of bottomland forests and swamps, often in calcareous areas.

Napčhóka Gmiyáŋ (Round Palm), Shepherd's-Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris, known by its common name shepherd's purse because of its triangular flat fruits, which are purse-like, is a small (up to 0.5 m) annual and ruderal flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae. It is native to eastern Europe and Asia minor, but is naturalized and considered a common weed in many parts of the world, especially in colder ...more ↓

Waȟpé Ȟ’eȟ’é (Ragged Leaf), or Rocky Mountain Bee Plant

Cleome serrulata (syn. Peritoma serrulata), commonly known as Rocky Mountain beeplant/beeweed, stinking-clover, bee spider-flower, skunk weed, Navajo spinach, and guaco is an annual plant in the genus Cleome. Many species of insects are attracted to it, especially bees, which helps in the pollination of nearby plants. It is ...more ↓

Wagmúha (Gourd Rattle), Bottle Gourd, or Calabash

The calabash, bottle gourd, or white-flowered gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, also known by many other names that include: opo squash (from Tagalog: upo), long melon, suzza melon, New Guinea bean and Tasmania bean is a vine grown for its fruit, which can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable, or harvested mature, ...more ↓

Waȟnáȟnaheča (It is Groaning Inside), or Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis is a monotypic genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. The sole species is E. lobata, commonly called wild cucumber, prickly cucumber, or balsam apple. It is an annual, sprawling plant that is native to North America.

Wagmú Pȟežúta (Medicine Gourd), or Buffalo Gourd

Cucurbita foetidissima is a tuberous xerophytic plant found in the central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has numerous common names, including: buffalo gourd, calabazilla, chilicote, coyote gourd, fetid gourd, fetid wild pumpkin, Missouri gourd, prairie gourd, stinking gourd, wild ...more ↓

Wagmú (Squash), Lakota Squash, or Squash

Cucurbita maxima, one of at least four species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species. This species originated in South America from the wild Cucurbita andreana over 4000 years ago. The two species hybridize quite readily but have noticeably different calcium levels.

Čhapčhéyazala (lit. “Beaver-?-rows-little”), American Black Currant

Ribes americanum is a North American species of flowering plant in the gooseberry family known by the common names American black currant, wild black currant, and eastern black currant. It is widespread in much of Canada (from Alberta to Nova Scotia), the northern United States (from New England to Washington, with additional populations in Colorado and New ...more ↓

Wičhágnaška Hú (Frogs Stem), or Golden Currant

Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant, clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species in the genus Ribes. It is native to Canada, most of the United States (except the southeast) and northern Mexico. The variety Ribes aureum var. villosum is sometimes considered a full species, Ribes ...more ↓

Wičhágnaška Tȟáŋka (Big Frogs Legs), or Missouri Gooseberry

Ribes missouriense, the Missouri gooseberry, Missouri currant or wild gooseberry, is a prickly, many-stemmed shrub native to the north-central United States (Great Lakes, upper Mississippi and lower Missouri Valleys). Scattered populations have been found farther east, most of them very likely escapes from cultivation.

Čhaŋíyuwi Iyéčheča (Like a Vine), or Thicket Creeper

Parthenocissus vitacea (syn. P. inserta), also known as thicket creeper, false Virginia creeper, woodbine, or grape woodbine, is a woody vine native to North America, in southeastern Canada (west to southern Manitoba) and a large area of the United States, from Maine west to Montana and south to New Jersey and Missouri in the east, and Texas to ...more ↓

Pȟeží Psuŋpsúŋla (Pliable Grass), Sedge Grass, Sedge, or Douglas' Sedge

Carex douglasii is a species of sedge known by the common name Douglas' sedge.

Mní Saŋtúhu (lit. “Water Red-grass”), or Yellow Nutsedge

Cyperus esculentus (also called chufa sedge, nut grass, yellow nutsedge, tiger nut sedge, or earth almond) is a crop of the sedge family widespread across much of the world. It is found in most of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Southern Europe, Africa and Madagascar, as well as the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Míčapȟeča (To Stab One’s Self), or Porcupine Needlegrass

Hesperostipa spartea is a species of grass known by the common names porcupine grass, western porcupine grass, short-awn porcupine grass, porcupine needlegrass, and big needlegrass. It is native to North America, where it is widespread from British Columbia to Ontario in Canada and through the central and Great Lakes regions of the United ...more ↓

Edited by dgoodhouse, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)