John Mionczynski: Some Interesting Plants of the Ancient People of the Yellowstone

I found this very interesting presentation on native plants of the Yellowstone region. John Mionczynski has lived in Wyoming for many years, often living entirely on local foods. He features many of the plants which appear in this blog, and goes into some details about the edible, medicinal and other uses of our local plants. He also has some interesting information about bears.

John Mionczynski Presents: Some Interesting Plants of the Ancient People of the Yellowstone

(I found more short videos from John Mionczynski at https://nativememoryproject.org/plants/)

Plants talked about in this video:

Yampah (Perideridia gairdneri)

Biscuit Root (Lomatium and Cymopterus sp.) -- I hope to publish information on this soon. Some of the more common biscuit root species in this area are Lomatium triternatum and Cymopterus longipes.

Desert Parsley (probably Lomatium dissectum) -- antimicrobial root

Oshá (Ligusticum porteri) -- I used this a lot last winter. Everyone else around me got sick, but I didn't.

Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) -- See my article on Piñon pine (Pinus monophylla) for information on harvesting pine nuts.

Whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium) -- leaves used to prevent blindness in aged

Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum)

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) -- pudding is antitumor

Cattail (Typha sp.) -- Food, padding, insulation. Definitely on the to-do list.

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) -- food, padding, antifungal, healing.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) -- food, perfume, healing.

Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Elephant Tree (Adenium obesum) -- A tree found in Ethiopia; used similar to milkweed.

Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) -- perfume

Sedges (Carex sp.) -- food, basketry

Elk Thistle (Cirsium foliosum) -- rubbing stick for teeth, chlorophyll is antibacterial.

Bitterroot (Lewisia sp.) -- I have found it here, but not common.

Sage brush (Artemisia sp.) -- antimalarial

Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea) -- perfume

"Abortion Plant" (probably Lithospermum ruderale) -- contraceptive

Black tree lichen (Bryoria fremontii) -- jello

Juneberry or Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)