University of Virginia Library

IV. Botany

FROM a small blank-book of Lewis's,[1] which he had
also used when an army paymaster in 1800. These
notes were apparently written during the winter of
1803–04, at River Dubois. The book also contains meteorological
data, which will be given post.—Ed.]

The Kickapoo calls a certain water plant with a large Circular floating
leaf found in the ponds and marshes in the neighbourhood of Kaskaskias
and Cahokia, Po-kish'-a-co-mah', of the root of this plant the
Indians prepare an agreeable dish, the root when taken in it's green
state is from 8 to 14 inches in circumpherence is dryed by being
exposed to the sun and air or at other times with a slow fire or smoke
of the chimnies, it shrinks much in drying. The root of this plant
grows in a horrizontal direction near the surface of the rich loam or
mud which forms the bottoms of their ponds or morasses, generall[y]
three, sometimes four or more of these roots are attatced together by a
small root or string of a hearder substance of a foot or six inches in
length, the root of the plant thus annually progresses shooting out a
root from a bud at the extremity of the root of the presceeding years
groath, this in the course of the summer p[r]oduces a new root prepared
with a bud for the progression of the next season, also one leaf
and one seed stalk the stem of the former supporting or reather attatched
to a large green circular leaf 18 inches to two feet in diameter which
fl[o]ats while green usually on the serface of the water, the sta[l]k is
propotioned to the debth of the water, and of a celindrical form, is an
inch and a half in circumpherence at or near it's junction of the root
thence regularly tapering to the leaf where it is perhaps not more than
an inch, the large fibers of the leaf project from the extremity of the
stalk in every direction at right angles from it to the circumpherence of
the leaf like rays from the center, there are from twelve to eighteen of
those fibers. the leaf is nearly a circle smoth on both sides and even
and regular on it's edges near the same part of the root from which the
leaf stalk project the seed stalk dose also it is about the same size and
form of it but usually a foot longer standing erect and bearing it[s]

blossum above the surface of the water which I am informed is of a
white colour.

The seed vessel or matrix is the form of a depressed cone the small
extremity of which is attatc[h]ed to the uper end of the stalk; before it
has attained it's groath it resembles an inverted cone but when grown
the base obtains a preponderancy and inclining downwards rests it's
edge against the stalk the base is a perfect circular plain from eighteen
to twenty inches in circumpherence in it's succulent state, and from two
to three inches in hight. the surface of the cone when dryed by the
sun and air after being exposed to the frost is purforated with two circular
ranges of globular holes from twenty to 30 in number arond one
which forms the center placed at the distance of from an eighth to
1/4 of an inch assunder, each of those cells contains an oval nut of a light
brown colour much resembling a small white oak acorn smothe extreemly
heard, and containing a white cernal of an agreeable flavor;
these the native[s] frequently eat either in this state or roasted; they frequently
eat them also in their succulent state the bear feed on the leaves
of this plant in the spring and summer in the autumn and winter the
Swan, geese, brant, ducks and other acquatic fowls feed on the root,
the cone is brown, pithy and extreemly light, and when seperated from the
stalk flots on the suface of the water with its base down. the Indians
procure it and prepare it for food in the following manner—they enter
the ponds where it grows, barefooted in autumn, and feel for it among
the mud which being soft and the root large and near the surface they
readily find it they easily draw it up it having no fiborus or colateral
roots to attatch it firmly to the mud they wash and scrape a thin bleack
rind off it and cut it croswise into pieces of an inch in length when it
is prepared for the pot it is of a fine white colour boils to a pulp and
makes an agreeable soupe in which way it is usually dressed by the natives
when they wish to preserve it for any length of time they cut it
in pieces in the manner before discribed string it on bark or leather
throngs of a convenient length and hang it to dry in the sun, or expose
it to the smoke of their chimnies, when thus dryed it will keep for several
years, it is esteemed as nutricius as the pumpkin or squash and is
not very dissimilar in taste The Chipiways or sateaus call this plant
Wab-bis-sa-pin or Swan-root The ferench or Canadians know it by two
names the Pois de Shicoriat or Graine de Volais. the roots of this
plant are from one foot to eighteen inches in length.

The common wild pittatoe also form another article of food in savage
life this they boil untill the skin leaves the pulp easily which it will do
in the course of a few minutes the outer rind which is of a dark brown

coulour is then sc[r]aped off the pulp is of a white coulour, the pettatoe
thus prepared is exposed on a scaffold to the sun or a slow fire untill it
is thoroughly dryed, or at other times strung upon throngs of leather or
bark and hung in the roofs of their lodges where by the influence of the
fire and smoke it becomes th[o]roughly dryed, they are then prepared
for use, and will keep perfectly sound many years, these they boil with
meat or pound and make an agreeable bread of this pittaitoee may
be used in it's green or undryed state without danger provided it be well
roasted or boiled it produces a vine which runs to a considerable length
usually intwining itself about the neighbouring bushes and weeds, the
vine is somewhat branched, and in it[s] progress at the distance of 2 1/2
inches it puts forth one leaf stem at right angles with the vine, which is furnished with two par of ovate leaves and turminated by one of a
similar shape, these are of a pale green colour not indented on their
edges, reather a rough appearance, the vine is small and green except
near the ground where it sometime[s] assumes a redish hue. the fruit
is connected by a small liggament at both ends extending for many yards
in length and attatching together in some instances six eight or more of
these pittaitoes. it's root is pereniel the vine annual.

There is also another root found in ma[r] shey land or ponds which
is much used by the Kickapoos Chipaways and many other nations as
an article of food it is called by the Chipeways Moc-cup-pin this in
it's unprepared state is not only disagreeable to the taste but even dangerous
to be taken even in a small quantity; in this state it acts as a
powerfull aemetic. a small quantity will kill a hog yet prepared by the
Indians it makes not only an agreeable but a nutricious food. I have
not seen the plant and can therefore only discribe it from Information
the leaf is said to be broad and to float on the water the root is from
10 to 12 inches in length and about 2/3ds. as much in thickness it has
a rough black skin, the pulp is white and of a mealy substance when
properly prepared the preparation is this—having collected a parsel of
these roots you cut and split a sufficient parsel of wood which is set on
end as the coliers commence the base of their coal pitts, the [l]engths of
these sticks of wood being as nearly the same as you can conveniently
cut them and about 4 feet in length thus forming when put together an
even surface at top on this is thrown soft earth of from two to 3
Inches in debth the roots are laid on this and earth thrown over the
whole forming the Colliers kiln complete. fire is then communicated
to the wood beneath and it is suffered to burn slowly for several days
untill the wood is exausted or they concieve their roots are sufficiently
cooked they then take them out scrape them & cut them into slices

crosswise of half an inch thick and laying them on a scaffold of small
sticks build small fires under them and dry them untill they become perfectly
firm thus prepared they are fit for uce and will keep for years if
not exposed to wet. they are either boiled to a pulp in their soupe or
less boiled eat them with bears oil or venison and bears flesh they
sometimes pound it and make a bread of it.[2]

[Data by Clark, found in Codex N, pp. 154, 155. The
italicized words and figures in parentheses are interlineations,
also by Clark, in red ink.—Ed.][3]

Note. The Lynn commence about the Calumet Bluff's and downwards.
(950 Ms. up the Missouri)

The Black Walnut is found as high up as White Stone river and from
thence down on the high rich lands, (900 Ms.)

Mulberry is found as high up as Grand River de Sieoux. (858.)

Prickly pear is not Common below the Queequerre (1000 Ms.)

Hickory is to be found below the Mahars and black birch in the Same
country, also the horn beem (830 Ms.)

Hack berry and Hasel bushes are found as high up as the Council bluff
(650 Ms.) also red oake and Sycamore several species of oake Iron wood

Popaws arrow wood and elder are found as high as the little Nemahaw
(480 Mil) also Sugar tree

Buckeye is found as high up as the old Kanzas village above Independance
Creek (285 Ms.)

Green Bryar found as high up as [blank space in MS.]

Pacans are found as high up as Osarge River (400.)

In decending the Missouri & Rochejhone

The Grapes of the Small kind first appear on the River Rochejhone near
it's enterance into the Rocky mountain (2700 Mils) but are not abundant
on that river, the grape are abundant below cannon ball river,
(1500 Msup) and from thence down to the enterance of the river into
the Mississippi. no grapes of the large kind

Wild plumbs first appear at the cut off or Mandan Isd. (1580 Ms.) below
the mandans tho' they are Scerce and Small they becom abundant
and fine in the neighbourhood of the enterance of White River.

White oaks first appear 60 miles below the Ricaras Vil.g (1370 Ms. Up)
and are found in considerable quantity in the river bottoms just above
the enterance of Corvus Creek.

White Ash at ash rapid on the Missouri (2443 Mls.up). and on the
River rochejhone 60 miles above it's enterance.

Elm is found something higher up the rivers than the ash (2500)

Prickly ash first appears a fiew miles above Bull Island (2800) in the
river bottoms. Shoemate commences.

Yellow Oker above the upper old Kanzas Village in a bend on the S side

Chock Cherry found between the 2 Nemahars Rivers 500 miles up the
Missouri also another species of Cherry.
Sycamore is found at Ball pated prarie.

[Data by Lewis, found in Codex R, pp. 4–53, and not
entered elsewhere. The rest of Codex R consists of Clark's
copies of Lewis's natural history notes on the Columbia; as
these are contained in the journals proper, they are here
omitted.—Ed.][4]

A List of specimines of plants collected by me on the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers contain such observations on the vegitable kingdom
spread to our view in this rich country as they have occurred to my
mind. or as the several subjects have presented themselves to my
view.

No. 1.

• a species of Cress taken at St. Louis May 10th. 1804. it is
  common in the open grown[d]s on the Mississippi bottoms, appears in
  the uncultivated parts of the lots gardens and orchards, the seed come
  to maturity by the 10h. of May in most instances.

No. 2.

• was taken on the 22ed. of May 1804 on the bank of the Missouri
  about 8 miles above St. Charles it is common in the botom lands—rises
  to the hight of two feet, and rarely puts forth more than two stalks from
  the same root and most commonly only one it's root is spiral.

No. 3.

• Was taken on the 23rd. of May 1804, near the mouth of the
  Osage Woman's creek, it is a srub and resembles much in growth the
  bladder scenna, it rises to [the] hight of eight or ten feet and is an inhabitant
  of a moist rich coil. usually the verge of the river bank. it
  is a handsome Shrub

No. 4.

• Was taken at a small Village North side of the Missouri
  called Sharetton on the 25th. of May 1804. this is the last settlement
  on the Missouri; and consists of ten or twelve families mostly hunters.
  this specimine is the seed of the Cottonwood which is so abundant in
  

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  this country, it has now arrived at maturity and the wind when blowing
  strong drives it through the air to a great distance being supported by a
  parrishoot of this cottonlike substance which gives the name to the tree
  in some seasons it is so abundant as to be troublesome to the traveler.
  this tree arrives at great sise, grows extreemly quick the wood is of a
  white colour, soft spungey and light, perogues are most usually made
  of these trees, the wood is not durable nor do I know any other valuable
  purpose which it can answer except that just mentioned. this tree
  forms a great majority of the timber bordering the rivers Missouri and
  Mississippi; it extends itself throughout the extensive bottom lands of
  these streams and seases to appear when the land rises into hills when
  these rivers form new lands on their borders or Islands in their
  st[r]eams, which they are per[pe]tually doing, the sweet willow is the
  first tree or shrub which usually makes it's appearance, this continues
  one two or three years and is then supplanted by the Cottonwood which
  invariably succeedes it. this tree resembles much in it's air and appearance
  that beatifull and celibrated tree the Lombardy poplar; and more
  particularly so when in its young state; the young plants grow very
  close untill they have attained the age of four or five years, a proportion
  of them then begin to dye and the forrest opens and gives place to
  sundry other shrubs and plants which will be noticed in their proper
  places.

No. 5.

• was taken on the 27th. of May 1804, near the mouth of the
  Gasconade; it is a species of cress which grows very abundantly alonge
  the river beach in many places; my men make use of it and find it a
  very pleasant whol[e] some sallad.

No. 6.

• Was taken on the 27th. of May 1804, near the mouth of the
  Gasconade; it is a species of rope or kail, it grows on the beach of the
  river, when young my men used it [as] a boiled green and found [it]
  healthy and pleasant.

No. 7.

• was found on the 27th. of May 1804, near the water side about
  10 miles below the mouth of the Gasconade, it rises to the hight of three
  feet and puts forth many large suculent branched stalks from the same
  root, this plant is a stranger to me.

No. 8.

• Was taken the 29th. of May 1804, below the mouth of the
  Osage Rivr. this plant is known in Kentuckey and many other parts
  of this western country by the name of the yellow root. it is a sovereighn
  remidy for a disorder common in this quarter called the soar
  eyes this complaint is common it is a violent inflamation of the eyes
  attended with high fevers and headach, and is extreemly distressing, and
  frequently attended with the loss of sight. this root affords a speady
  

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  and efficasieus remidy for this disorder prepared & used in the following
  manner.—let the roots be geathered washed and carefully dryed in
  the shade; brake them in pieces of half an inch in length and put them
  in a bottle or viol, taking care to fill the vessel about two thirds full of
  the dryed root, then fill the vessell with could water, rain water is preferable;
  let it remain about six hours shaking it occasionally and it will
  be fit for use; the water must remain with the root and be applyed to
  the eyes frequently by weting a piece of fine linin [and] touching them
  gently with it. this root is a fine aromatic bitter, and a strong asstringent;
  it is probable that it might be applyed in many cases as a medicene
  with good effect, but I have not learnt that any experiment has been
  made by an inward application. it makes an excellent mouth water,
  and a good outward applycation for wounds or inflamations of every kind.
  native of rich bottom lands on the rivers.

No. 9.

• Was taken on the 30th. of May 1804, below the mouth of the
  Osage river; it rises from 18 Inches to 2 feet in hight; is a beautifull
  green plant found most generally on the sides of rich hills in the forrest
  it's radix is fiberous.

No. 10.

• This plant was taken the 1st. of June at the mouth of the
  Osage river; it is known in this country by the name of the wild ginger,
  it resembles that plant somewhat in both taste and effect, it is a strong
  stomatic stimelent, and freequently used in sperits with bitter herbs. it
  is common throughout the rich lands in the Western country.

No. 11.

• Was taken the 3rd. of June above the mouth of the Osage
  river; it is the groath of high dry open praries; rises to the hight of 18
  inches or two feet puts forth many stems from the same root; the
  radix is fiborous; the Indians frequently use the fruit of this plant to
  alay their thirst as they pass through these extensive dry praries common
  to many parts of the country bordering on the Missouri; it resembles
  much the Indigo in the appearance of it's growth. it bears it's fruit
  much like the indigo, a stem projects about three inches from the main
  stem at an angle of about 20 degrees, and bears from [two] to four
  podds, which in their succulent and unripe state as at this season of the
  year are about the size of a pullet's egg, somewhat flattened on two
  sides; the matrix is formed in two lobes and the seed are like pees and
  attatched to the matrix in the same manner, single and adhering to the
  center the pulp is crisp & clear and tasts very much like the hull of a
  gardin pee. when ripe the fruit is of a fine red coulour and sweet flavor.
  it dose not ripen untill the middle of June.

No. 12.

• 1st. of august 1804, one of our hunters brought us a bough
  of the purple courant, which is frequently cultivated in the Atlantic
  

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  states; the fruit was ripe; I presume it is a native of North America
  here it grows generally in the praries but is not very abundant. No. 12
  is a specimine of it's leaves.

No. 13.

• The narrow leaf willow taken on the 14th. of June. this
  tree is male and female, the female bearing it[s] seed in a small pod
  (small ova form) of three lobes, or devisions these pods are attatched
  to a stem which projects from the small boughs, and are from thirty to
  fifty in number, about this season they begin to ripen, when the pods
  burst and a great number of small seeds each furnished with a parrishoot
  of a cottonlike substance are discharged from those cels. they
  readily float in the air and are driven by the wind to a great distance,
  they are so abundant at some times as to be disagreeable to the traveller.
  the male plant has a sucession of it's flowers, commencing to
  bloom about the 1st. of June and continuing untill the 1st. of August,
  they are a small tausel of a half, or 3/4 of an inch in length, round, and
  tapering to the extremity, puting frort[h] from it's sides an infinite
  number of small stamens of a brown colour. it's leaves are numerous
  narrow, slightly indented, of a yellowish green, on the uper side, and
  whiteish green underneath, pointed, being widest in the middle which
  rarely exceeds 1/8th of an inch, it is smoth, tho' not glossey.

  This tree is invariably the first which makes it's appearance on the
  newly made Lands on the borders of the Mississippi and Missouri, and
  seems to contribute much towards facilitating the operation of raisin[g]
  this ground still higher; they grow remarkably close and in some
  instances so much so that they form a thicket almost impenetrable the
  points of land which are forming allways become eddies when overflown
  in high water these willows obstruct the force of the water and
  makes it more still which causes the mud and sand to be deposited in
  greater quantities; the willow is not attal imbarrassed or injured by this
  inundation, but puts forth an innumerable quantity of small fibrous
  roots from every part of its trunk near the surface of the water which
  further serve to collect the mud, if there happens not to be a sufficient
  quantity of mud depossited in the one season to cover the trunk of the
  willow as high as these capillery roots when the water subsides they
  fall down and rest on the trunk of the tree and conceal it for 18 or 20
  Inches; these capillery roots now perish and the willow puts forth
  other roots at the surface of the ground which enter it and furnish the
  tree with it's wanted nutriment this willow never rises to any considerable
  size, it is seldom seen larger than a mans arm, and scarcely
  ever rises higher than 25 feet. the wood is white light and tough, and
  is generally used by the watermen for setting poles in preference to any
  

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  thing else. as the willow incre[a]ses in size and the land gets higher
  by the annu[a]l inundations of the river, the weeker plants decline dye
  and give place to the cottonwood which is it's ordinary successor, and
  these last in their turn also thin themselves as they become larger in a
  similar manner and leave the ground open for the admission of other
  forest trees and under brush. these willow bars form a pleasant beacon
  to the navigator at that season when the banks of the river are tumbling
  in, as they [are] seldom high and rearly falling in but on the contrary
  most usually increasing.

No. 14.

• The wide leaf willow or that species which I believe to be
  common to most parts of the Atlantic States. it grows in similar situations
  to that discribed with rispect to the narrow leaf willow, but is
  never found in such abundance, it arrives to greater size some times to
  forty feet in hight and eighteen inches in diameter, the leave is smoth
  ovate, pointed, finely indented, a pale green on the upper side and of
  a whiteis[h] green or silver colour underneath. like the narrow leaf
  willow the leaf is widest in the middle where it is from one inch to 3/4
  wide. it bears it's seed in the manner discribed of the other and the
  plants ar[e] likewise male and female.

No. 15.

• Was taken on the 20th. of July, a bieniel plant, an inhabitant
  of the open praries or plains, high situations, where the grass is
  low. the flower is a pale purple colour small form a kind of button
  of a long cone like form which terminate[s] it's branches which are
  numerous. it grows abo[u]t 2 1/2 or three feet high. it is a stranger
  to me. the leaves are small and narrow, and divided into three on a
  stem

No. 16.

• this is much the same as No. 15. with this difference that
  the blume of the conic tausel are white in stead of purple and it's leaves
  single fewer and longer.

No. 17.

• Taken on the 27th. of July, the appearance of the bush is
  much like the privy and about the same hight it grows about the
  borders of the open praries it's leaf is a deep green, ovate 1 1/2 to 1 1/4
  inches long 1/2 inch wide finely indented plan[t] piennial. the buries
  or fruit a small round bury of a deep perple coulour nearly black, has
  three seed formed like the third part of a globe split by the meeting of
  two plains at it's axcis. I do not know whether birds eat them or not.
  they look handsome but tast insipid, this is a groath with which I
  am not acquainted.

No. 18.

• was taken 30th. July grows in the praries in high situations,
  it's radix is pe[r]ennial, it grows about three 1/2 or 4 feet high it has
  a long top root is but little branced, it's colateral brances are short
  

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  and furnished with many leaf stems which are garnished by a great
  number of small leaves which are attatch[ed] by pairs on either side
  and resemble some of the sensative bryers, tho I could not discover that
  this plant partook of that quality. it's flower is of a gloubelar form
  composed of a number of fibers of a yellowish white, and produces as a
  fruit a bunch of little pees which are all bent edgeways into the form
  of a semicircle and so closely connected and compressed as to form a
  globular figure of a curious appearance.

No. 19.

• Taken at the old village of the little Osages; the seed were
  now ripe; it grew in great abundance in the prarie from five to six feet
  high; it gave the plain much the appearance of an extensive timothy
  meadow ready for the sythe, the small birds feed on the seed which are
  very abundant resembling in size shape and colour those of the flax;
  when ripe they fall very easily from the stem. the leaf of this grass
  dose not decline or wither as many others do at the time the seed ripens
  but still continues succulent and green. it continues throughout the
  summer to put up a succession of young succors which in turn bear a
  large quantity of seed: this succession of crops continues throughout
  the season without the declining or withering of the stalk or leaves of
  the mother plant. the horses were very fond of this grass and I am disposed
  to believe that it would make a valuable grass for culture. this
  grass is common in the praries or bottom lands as high as the river
  Platte and perhaps further it is a fine sweet grass and I am confident
  would make good hay.

No. 20.

• A specemine of wild Rye taken on the 27th. of July, this
  grass is common to all the low praries above the Cancez river. it rises
  to the hight of six feet and upwards and resembles the rye extreemly in
  appearance the geese and ducks feed on it when young, as they do
  also on the grain when ripe in September and October it produces
  much grain tho of an inferior quality compared with cultivated rye.

No. 21.

• is another species of the wild rye it dose not grow as tall as
  No. 20. neither does it like that species confine itself so much to the
  open ground; it is sometimes found in the timbered land. the grain it
  produces is [n]either so large or so abundant as the former.

No's. 22, 23, 24 & 25,

• Are various species of grasses which appear
  in the praries, No. 23. is the most common of any other grass, it rises
  to the hight of from 4 to 8 feet and never bears any flower or seed that
  I ever observed and suppose therefore that it must propegate by means
  of the root: common to all praries in this country.

No. 26.

• Taken on the 2ed. of August in the p[r]arie at the Cuncil
  bluff. it is a species of honeysuccle and the tube of the flour is very
  

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  small and short they smell precisely like the English Honeysuccle so
  much admired in our gardens; this is a shrub and dose not run or vine.
  the vining honesuccle which bears a red flour is also common to the
  Illinois and is found as high up the Missoury as the mouth of the
  Kancez river above which I have not observed it. this species of shrub
  Honesuccle has some of it's leaves much indented; the fruit nearly ripe
  when the plant is still in blume; it makes a pretty groath and is a pleasant
  looking pla[n]t rises to three or four feet high and limbs are much
  branched.

No. 27.

• taken 4th. of August, and furst observed at the bald prarie
  it is [a] beatifull plant with a variagated leaf these leaves incompass
  the flowers which are small and in the center of them; at a small distance
  they resemble somewhat a white rose the leaf near the large
  stem is green and is edged with white; they grow smaller and more
  numerous as they approach the flower or the extremity of the limb.
  the plant is much branched; the leaf is smoth on both sides and edge,
  of an ovate form and pale green colour, rises to five or six feet, is annual.
  at every point that it branches it has a pair of opposite leaves
  and from th[r]ee to four branches.

No. 28.

• taken on the 17th. July at the bald prarie is a large convolvalist
  [of] a fine white colour; the vines are very extensive and run in
  every direction intwining themselves about the larger weeds and bending
  them down is [in] such manner as to make the open grownds or praries
  where they grow almost impassable; the root is about the size and shape
  of the vine and enters it so deep that I could not find it's brances tho'
  I dug as much as 2 feet in surch of it. the leaf is of a
  tonge like form pale green even on the edges. leaf thus [ILLUSTRATION]

No. 29.

• Taken on the 18th. of July. an annuel plant
  puting up many branches from the root has a leaf like the pateridge
  bea[n], is jointed bears a number of yellow pea-like flowers which grow
  on the seed stems which project from the main branches and which are
  unattended with leaves; these flowers grow all arround this stem and
  give it the appearance of a tausell. the [l]eaf stems ar[e] long and have
  24 par of leaves.

No. 30.

• was taken at the bald praries and is common to both low
  and high praries it usually grows in a single stem and appears to be an
  annual groath the leaves are white and like the stem appear to be covered
  with a white down. this is common to all the praries above the
  Kancez river; from it's resemblence in taste smell &c to the common
  Sage I have called it the wild Sage.

No. 31.

• Taken on the 10th. of August, a species of sand rush,
  

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  149

  
  
  
  jointed and so much branched as to form a perfect broom; it is common
  to every part of this river at least as far as Latitude 42. N. it
  grows near the water's edge in moist sand; the horses are remarkably
  fond of it.

No. 40

• Taken at our camp at the Maha vilage August 17th. 1804.
  it is a handsome plant about 3 feet high much branched bears a yellow
  circular flower carnished with meany small narrow ovate petals of the
  same colour, the leaf about an inch and a quarter in length thick smoth
  indent [ed] finely, incompassing the stalk about 2/3's and of a tongue
  like form; annual plant is covered with a gumlike substance which
  adheres to the fingers and yealds a pleasent smell.

No. (100)

• Novb. 17th. the seed of a plant given me by the recara chief
  who accompanyed us to the mandanes he informed me that a tea of
  the seed was a strong diaerettic. and that the squaws chewed them
  and rubed their hair with them as a perfume.

No. (101)

• the root w[h]en pounded in either green or dryed state
  makes an excellent poltice for swellings or soar throat. information of
  the same chief.

No. 102)

• by the information of the same chief—is an excellent
  purge. the root is dryed and pounded in that state as much as you
  can hold between the finger and thumb thrise is a doze. it is the
  growth of the open praries has many small stalks 2 feet high radix
  piennl [biennial].

No. 103.

• is the growth of the open praries. it seldom grows higher
  it is said to be good for inflamed eyes the leaves are immerced in water
  and being bruised with the fingers a little the water is squeezed from it
  and occasionally droped when could upon the eyes.

(104 No.)

• October the 16th. a dwarf cedar of the open praries seldom
  ever rises more than six inches high it is said to be a stimilating
  shrub it is used as a tea by the Indians to produce sweat. they
  would make a handsome edging to the borders of a gardin if used as the
  small box sometime is.

No. 105.

• seed of the Larger species of recarre tobacco pre[se]nted
  us by Lepoy an Indian chief of that nation commanding the middle
  town.

No. 106

• is the corrollars of the same prepared for smoking. they
  are plucked and dryed in the shade.

No. 107

• is the seed of the smaller species.

The recarres cultivate two species of tobacco for the purpose of
smoking in which way they use it altogether as they neither snuff nor
chew.

The Larger species (see specimine plants No. 108) rises to the hight
of three feet it's round green and succulent much branched when
suffered to grow singly. in that sittuation it branches near the ground.
and continues to branch and rebranch as it rises at the distance of an
inch or 2 inches, thus forming an infinite number of boughs at the top
which are terminated by the flowers which are tubelar, trunnicated
scalluped on the edges and five pointed, white colour, order, pentandria
moniginia, the leaf is of a toung-like form the larger of which are
attatched to the lower part of the stalk, one inch wide in the broadest
part & 2 1/2 inches long. the[y] demin[i]s[h] as they are higher on the
stalk, tho' they increas in numbers. The indians cultivate it in the
following manner they prepare hills at the distance of about 2 1/2 feet
from each other, and leavel the top nearly leaving it somewhat convex.
in those hills they sew the seed as early in the spring as the climate will
permit them to prepare the earth say latter end of April; they keep the
hills clear of weeds and grass by plucking it from among the stalks of
tobacco with their fingers and sometimes allso thin the stalks of
tobacco by plucking up the weaker stalks tho they leave many stalks
to grow on each hill. when the tobacco begins to form it's seed poods
it is then ready for the knife when a great portion from each hill is cut
and hung on sticks untill it is nearly dry when they form them into
carrots of the thickness of a mans arm role them closely with willow
bark and hang them in the smoke of their lodges to dry. in forming
the carrot they put the butts or lower parts of the stalks together.
where the tobacco is cultivated with a view to make carrots the stalks
are so thick that they do not attain a thickness at the largest part of the
stern greater than that of a small quill. They esteem much more the
corroller dryed for the purpose of smoking and for this purpose leave
some plant [s] more widely seperated from each other in which situation
they produce a greater abundance of flowers & seed they begin to
blume in the month of [blank space in MS.] and continue untill the
first frost; during the full blume of the flower they pluck the corrollar
together with the flower and discarding the latter suffer the former to
dry in the shade when perfectly dryed it resembles at first view the
green tea and in that state it is smoked by the indians and I found it
very pleasent. it dose not affect the nerves in the same manner that
the tobacco cultivated in the U'S. dose. The smaller species of this
plant differs but little from this just discribed. it is cultivated in the
same manner and bears a flower like the other only smaller. the only
difference is the form of the leaf, which is larger say 4 times the size
and ovate they dry this on sticks and use it in that manner it is

reather stronger than the large kind and is seldom made into carrots by
the Recares.

☞it is worthy of remark that the recares never use sperituous
liquors. Mr. Tibeau informed me that on a certain occasion he offered
one of their considerate men a dram of sperits, telling him it's virtues
the other replyed that he had been informed of it's effects and did not
like to make himself a fool unless he was paid to do so that if Mr. T.
wished to laugh at him & would give him a knife or breech-coloth or
something of that kind he would take a glass but not otherwise.

[The following is copied verbatim from the American
Philosophical Society's Donation Book of the period—a
small volume in limp board covers, 7 5/8 × 12 1/2″ in size. These
entries, covering sixteen pages, and apparently in the handwriting
of Dr. John Vaughn, doubtless closely followed the original
notes by Lewis. The letter "H" is apparently the check-mark
of a receiving clerk.—Ed.][5]

Donations November 16, 1805 from Meriwether Lewis Dried
Plants &c put into Dr. B. S Bartons hands for examination.[6]

No. 1

• At St Louis May 10th 1804

2

• May 10th 1804

3

• May 23, 1804

4

• May 25th 1804

The Cottonwood found on every part of the Missouri as high as the
mandans, generally grows in the river bottoms & near its borders.—H

5

• May 27, 1804

6

• May 27, 1804

7

• May 27, 1804

8

• May 29, 1804.

This plant is known in Kentucky & many other parts of the Western
Country by the name of the yellow root. It is said to be a sovereign
remedy in a disorder common to the Inhabitants of the Country where
found, usually termed sore eyes—frequently attended with high fever
& sometimes terminates in the loss of sight, always gives great pain &
continues for a length of time in most cases. The preparation &
application of the root is as follows—having procured a quantity of
the roots, wash them clean & suffer them to dry in the Shade, break
them with the fingers as fine as you conveniently can, put them in a glass
vessel, taking care to fill it about 2/3 with the Broken root, then add
rain or river water until the Vessel is filled, shake it frequently & it will
be fit for use in the course of 6 hours. The Water must not be decanted
but remaining with the root is to be frequently applied by wetting
a piece of fine linnen and touching thee Eyes gently with it. This
root has a fine aromatic bitter taste, it is probable that it might be
applied internally in many cases with good effect, but I have not learnt.
that any experiments have yet been made with it in that way. It
makes an excellent mouth water & is an excellent outward application
in cases of wounds or local application of any kind. It is the Growth
of rich bottom lands.

M. Lewis

9

10

• Usually called wild ginger grows in rich bottom Land June 1,
  1804

11

• June 3d. 1804

12

• The purple Currant, 1 Augt. 1804

13

• Narrow leaf willow common to the borders of the Missouri.
  June 14, 1804.

14

• Broadleaf Willow found on the Missouri not so common as the
  Narrow leaf willow but grows much larger sometimes rising to
  30 feet June 14, 1804

15

• found in the open plains. 20 July, 1804 H

16

• same as No 16 H

17

• found on the Edges of the Prairies, rises about 8 foot high the leaf
  is a deep green, the bush has a handsome appearance with its
  fruit. 27 July, 1804 H

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155





18.

• growth of the high plains taken the 30 July, 1804.

20

• S.

20

• Growth of the rich Prairie bottoms found 27 July. 1804 S

21

• Another Speceis of the Wild Rye it does not grow as tall as No 20
  S 27 July

22

• N 22, 23, 24, 25 are various species of grass which grow in the
  prarie Bottom lands of the Missouri N 23 is the most common
  it rises to the height of 4 & 5 feet & never bears any Seed or
  flower, it propagates itself by the root 27 July

23

24

• H

25

• H

26

26

• Species of Honey Suckle common to the prairies this Specimen was
  obtained at the Council Bluffs 2d Aug, 1804 H

27

• Growth of the Prairie Bottoms taken on the 4th Aug, 1804

28

• Do—Do—15 July 1804

29

• Growth of the open praries 18 July 1804

30.

• Do—Do—13 July

31

• Growth of the Sand Bars near the Banks of the Rivers 10 Aug
  1804

32

• Specimens of the aromatic plants on which the Antelope feeds
  these wer obtained 21 Sep. 1804 at the upper part of the Big
  bend of the Missouri—H

33

• an evergreen plant which grows usually in the open plains, the
  natives smoke its leaves mixed with Tobacco called by the
  french engages Sacacommé obtained at Fort Mandon

34

• The leaf of Oak which is common to the Prairies. 5 Sep. 1804

35

• Sept. 18. The Growth of the Prairies H

36

• Sep. 18 Growth of the high Prairies.

37

• Sep. 22 Do—Do—

38

• Oct. 15, 1804 Growth of the high Prairies or Plains.

39

• Obtained at the mouth of the River Quicourre from which, place
  upwards, it is abundant in the Missouri bottoms, it is a pleasant
  Berry to eat, it has much the flavor of the Cranbury & continues
  on the bush thro' the Winter. This is an Evergreen shrub—

  Some plants are sent down by the barge to the care of Capt
  Stoddart at St. Louis. H

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156





40.

• 17 Aug 1804 Growth of Prairies at our Camp near the old
  Maha Village. H

41.

• 2d Sep. 1804 On the Bluffs grows in open high situations. H

42.

• 27th Aug. At the Chalk Bluff grows in the mineral earth at the
  base of the Hill H

43.

• 25th Augt. Growth of the open Prairies. H

44.

• Sepr. 1st. Do. Do H

45.

• Oct. 12. Specimen of Tobacco the Indians cultivate called
  Ricaras Tobacco—at the Ricares Town

46.

• Sep. 15, 1804 The growth of the Upper Prairies H

47.

• Oct. 17. Species of Juniper common to the Bluffs H

48.

• Oct. 17 a Decoction of this plant used by the Indians to wash
  their Wounds 103

49.

• Oct. 16. (104) never more than 6 Inches high Dwarf Cedar.

50.

• Oct. 18. The small rose of the Prairies it rises from 12 to 14
  Inch high does not vine H

51.

• Oct. 3d. 1804 Radix Perrenial three to 8 Stalks as high as the
  specimen growth of the high sides of the Bluff (Camomile taste)

52.

• Sep. 15, 1804 Growth of the plains. H

53.

• Oct. 3d. Flavor like the Cammomile Radix Perennial—High
  Bluffs.

53.

• (A) Sep. 2' The Indians use it as an application to fresh wounds
  they bruise the leaves add a little water & use it.

54.

• Oct. 2d grows from 18 Inches to 2 1/2 feet many stalks from the
  same root, from which they issue near the ground. The Radix
  perrenial. The goat or antelope feed on it in the winter, it is
  the growth of the high bluffs H

55.

• Oct. 2d 1804 Growth of the high Bluffs

56.

• Oct. 2d 1804. Growth of the open plains

57.

• Oct. 1, 1804 first discovered in the neighborhood of the Kancez
  River—now very common, the growth of the little Cops, which
  appear on the steep declivities of the Hills where they are sheltered
  from the ravages of the fire. H

58

• 2d Oct. 1804 A species of Cedar found on the Bluffs the trees
  of which are large, some 6 feet in the Girth. H

58

• 12 Sepr. growth of the high dry Prairie H

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157





59

• 19th Sepr. 1804 The growth of the high & bare Prairies which
  produce little Grass—Generally mineral earth. H

59.

• Growth of moist & very wet prairies—8 Sep. H

60.

• Octr. 1, 1804. another variety of wild Sage growth of high &
  bottom Prairies. H

  Seeds

61

• Wild Prairie Timothy Seeds H

62

• Seeds of a Species of Pine with a Pod H

The Fang of a Rattle Snake, they are abundant on the Missouri.

Specimen of the fur of the Antelope, this animal affords but little, it
is intermixed with the coarse hair & is not perceptible but by close
examination.

Two Small quadrupeds.

a few Insects.

The corolla of the Indian Tobacco as prepared for the purpose of
smoking by the Mandans, Ricaras, Minetares & Ahwahhaways, in this
State it is mixed with a small quantity of Buffaloes Tallow, previous to
charging the pipe. It is esteemed a great delicacy among these people,
they dispose of it to their neighbors the Assinouboins & others who
visit them for the purpose of Traffick from whom they obtain a high
price.

Fort Mandan March 5, 1805.

This specimen of a plant [H.] common to the praries in this quarter
was presented to me by Mr. Hugh heney a gentleman of rispectability
and information who has resided many years among the natives of this
country from whom he obtained the knowledge of its virtues. Mr.
Haney informed me that he had used the root of this plant frequently
with the most happy effect in cases of the bite of the mad wolf or dog
and also for the bite of the rattle snake he assured me that he had
made a great number of experiments on various subjects of men horses
and dogs particularly in the case of madness where the symptoms were
in some instances far advanced and had never witnessed it's failing to
produce the desired effect. the method of using it is by external application,
to half an ounce of the root finely pulverized, add as much water
as is necessary to reduce it to the consistency of a common poltice and
apply it to the bitten parts, renewing the dressing once in twelve hours.
in cases of the bite of the mad dog where the wound has healed before
the symptoms of madness appear, the bitten part must be lacerated or

sca[r]efyed before the application is made. the application had always
better be made as early as possible after the injury has been sustained.

I have sent herewith a few pounds of this root, in order that experiments
may be made by some skillful person under the direction of the
P[h]ilosophical society of Philadelphia.