Publications of the Oklahoma Biological Survey 2nd Series Volume 7: 24-33, 2006 © Oklahoma Biological Survey, 2006 VASCULAR PLANTS UTILIZED BY THE PLAINS APACHE IN SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA Julia Jordan1,4, Wayne Elisens2, 3, and Richard Thomas2 1Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2Oklahoma Biological Survey, and 3Department of Botany and Microbiology; University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 ABSTRACT.—Based on field studies conducted in 1963 and 1964, the Plains Apache in southwestern Oklahoma utilized at least 105 species of vascular plants as edible plants and for material culture, ritual and medicinal purposes, and personal care and adorn- ment. Most species (98) are native to western Oklahoma and the Great Plains. The only North American exotics are watercress, white sweetclover, and Johnsongrass; peyote, sweetgrass, frosted mint, and mescal bean are the only North American natives used that do not occur in Oklahoma. We propose that many of the plants utilized by the Plains Apache have a long history of usage among numerous tribes in the temperate steppe ecoregion of North America, because 44 species appear in the archaeobotanical record throughout the Great Plains. Although the Plains Apache were historically nomadic and had an economy based in large part on the American Bison, they have a rich ethnobotanical heritage. INTRODUCTION The North American temperate steppes have a con- Ethnobotanical studies among tribal groups from tinental climate characterized by hot summers and cold the Great Plains of North America generally are few in winters and an annual precipitation gradient increas- number, concentrated in the early decades of the twen- ing from west (<38 cm) to east (>76 cm). The surface tieth century, and confined mostly to the northern and topography has low relief, an eastward slope from 1675 m central regions (Kindscher 1987, 1992; Pfeiffer 1993; to less than 450 m, and valleys that are typically broad, Adair 2003, Moerman 2006). Among traditionally steep sided, and shallow. The potential natural vegeta- nomadic hunting and gathering tribes in the southern tion of the region inhabited by the Plains Apache is plains, plant use among the Comanche (Carlson and predominantly grassland with some woodland and Jones 1940, Jones 1968), Kiowa (Vestal and Schultes forest associations. Grasslands are classified generally 1939), and Plains Apache (Jordan 1965) have been as Grama–Buffalo short grass (Bouteloua–Buchloë), investigated. The Plains Apache are distinct culturally Bluestem-Grama mixed grass (Schizachyrium/Andropogon– from the Apache of the Southwest, and were previous- Bouteloua), Tallgrass (Andropogon/Schyzachrium– ly referred to as the ‘Kiowa-Apache’ or even erro- Panicum–Sorghastrum), Sandsage Bluestem (Artemisia– neously considered a band of the Kiowa. The Plains Schizachyrium), and Shinnery Oak-Bluestem (Quercus– Apache, similar to all Apacheans living east of the Andropogon/Schizachyrium) communities. Vegetation Rocky Mountains, were a small group whose tradition- with high cover of woody plants include Postoak- al economy was centered on bison hunting supple- Blackjack Oak (Quercus) Forest (i.e., the Cross Timbers) mented by gathering (Schroeder 1974, Foster and and riverine woodland (Bruner 1931, Kuchler 1964, McCullough 2001). They inhabited the western and Hoagland 2000). southern Great Plains (Montana and North Dakota Most members of the Plains Apache now live in south to New Mexico and Oklahoma) in the High southwestern Oklahoma with a population around Plains and Osage Plains physiographic regions (Hunt 2000 (Schweinfurth 2002). Because the Plains Apache 1967) since at least the 17th century (LaSalle report of were made to take individual allotments of 160 acres 1682 in Foster 2003, Foster and McCullough 2001). The each from 1902 to 1908, there is no reservation current- Plains Apache have an ethnobotanical heritage that is ly (Schweinfurth 2002). Southwestern Oklahoma has based historically and ecologically in the Temperate the vegetation and flora characteristic of the Great Steppe Ecoregion of North America (Bailey 1995) Plains (Great Plains Flora Association 1986, Bailey where they reside currently. We report here for the 1995), Cross Timbers (Dyksterhuis 1948), and the first time a list of plants utilized by the Plains Apache North American Prairie floristic province (Takhtajan based on the field research of Jordan (1965, unpub- 1986). The tribe has subsisted and persisted with simi- lished manuscript). lar habitats and vegetation at least since contact with 4 E-mail: [email protected] 24 25 JORDAN, ELISENS, AND THOMAS [POBS, Vol. 7 European explorers and settlers. Along with the the Bebb Herbarium; the second author verified nam- Comanche and Kiowa, they have resided in southwest- ing of 19 voucher specimens. Five identifications were ern Oklahoma since 1867. Members of the Plains obtained without plant specimens and were based on Apache are concentrated near the towns of Anadarko, detailed descriptions provided by informants. Because Apache, Boone, Carnegie, and Fort Cobb in the general George Goodman was an acknowledged expert of the area surrounding the juncture of southern Caddo, flora of Oklahoma (e.g., Goodman 1958), we have high western Comanche, and eastern Kiowa counties. This confidence in our species identifications. Plant nomen- area is characterized by a flat to rolling topography clature including common names followed The ranging in elevation from 360 m to 450 m, with the PLANTS database (USDA, NRCS 2006). Several highest elevations (>730 m) in the Wichita Mountains species were identified only to genus. of northern Comanche County. The primary goal of this study was to list the plants RESULTS AND DISCUSSION utilized by the Plains Apache as identified by six Plains At least 105 species in 86 genera of vascular plants Apache elders. Discussion of the cultural, ritualistic, representing 46 families were utilized by the Plains and cosmological significance of their plants is present- Apache; results are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Most ed in Jordan (1965, unpublished manuscript). plants (98) are native to southwestern Oklahoma, occur Although many other plants were undoubtedly impor- throughout the western and southern Great Plains, and tant formerly in Apache life, information on their iden- most likely represent plants that were familiar to the tity and use were not obtained and may be beyond Plains Apache during their history. Support for this recovery, because of the loss of cultural information. latter hypothesis is inferred from the Great Plains pale- oethnobotanical record (Adair 2003), which lists 44 MATERIALS AND METHODS species in 35 genera shared with the Plains Apache eth- Information concerning plant use by the Plains nobotanical survey (Jordan 1965). Apache was obtained through interviews, observa- Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), white sweet- tions, and field excursions by the senior author with clover (Melilotus alba), and Johnsongrass (Sorghum two male and four female tribal elders in 1963 and halapense) are the only North American exotics repre- 1964. Six principal informants provided most of the sented in the ethnobotanical survey of the Plains information and are now deceased: Fred Bigman, Ray Apache (Jordan 1965). Jordan (1965) observed that Blackbear, Gertie Chalepah, Rose Chaletsin, Connie most introduced plants were unnamed, ignored by the May Saddleblanket, and Louise Saddleblanket. Based informants, and dismissed as “white man’s plants.” on the age and experiences of the informants, most Peyote (Lophophora williamsii), sweetgrass (Hierochloe data about plant utilization date from around 1890 to odorata), frosted mint (Poliomintha incana), and mescal 1930, but some present uses may be quite old and bean (Sophora secundiflora) are native North American extend back into the pre-contact period. plants that do not occur in Oklahoma. Because they are Plants were placed into four ethnobotanical cate- important in rituals and for personal use, they were gories: edible plants, plants important for material cul- obtained via travel, trade and purchase (Jordan 1965, ture, ritual and medicinal plants, and plants used for unpublished field notes). Pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) is personal care and adornment. The list of medicinal native to Oklahoma, but occurs naturally only in the plants recovered is less complete than those of other extreme western part of the panhandle (Cimarron categories, because medicines were the property of County) and is distant from the present location of the healing specialists and their manner of preparation Plains Apache. Pinyon seeds also were obtained was not common knowledge (Jordan 1965). Plants through travel and trade. classified as ‘mates’ (i.e., plants similar in appearance The largest category of plants used by the Plains to those of cultural significance) and those used for Apache are the ‘edible plants’ (48 species) followed by firewood, fodder, crops, or bouquets were not includ- plants used in material culture (43 species), in rituals or ed in the list presented here, but are available in Jordan for ‘medicinal’ use (39 species), and for personal care (1965). and adornment (7 species). Twenty-seven plants have Most identifications were obtained directly from multiple usages in more than one category. Three plant material brought by the senior author to the species of edible plants, groundnut (Apios americana), Robert Bebb Herbarium of the University of potato dwarf dandelion (Krigia dandelion), and tuber-