A Survey of Selected Economic Plants Virgil S
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 1981 A Survey of Selected Economic Plants Virgil S. Priebe Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Botany at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Priebe, Virgil S., "A Survey of Selected Economic Plants" (1981). Masters Theses. 2998. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2998 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. T 11 F:SIS H El"">RODUCTION CERTIFICATE TO: Graduate Degree Candidates who have written formal theses. SUBJECT: Permission to reproduce theses. The University Library is rece1vrng a number of requests from other institutions asking permission to reproduce disse rta tions for inclusion in their library holdings. Although no copyright laws are involved, we feel that professional courtesy demands that permission be obtained from the author before we allow theses to be copied. Please sign one of the following statements: Booth Library of Eastern Illinois University has my permission to l end my thesis to a reputable college or university for the purpose of copying it for inclusion in that institution's library or res e ar ch holdings• . �� /ft/ ff nfl. Author I respectfully request Booth Library of Eastern Illinois University not allow my thesis be reproduced because -----� ---------- ---··· ·--·· · ----------------------------------- Date Author m A Survey o f Selected Economic Plants (TITLE) BY Virgil S. Priebe THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Science IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 1981 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE if /9f/ D)V;'E t-11��1 DATE DATE ABSTRACT A library research project was done to gain informa tion on the ethnic uses o f p lants cited in C. B. Arzeni and B. N. McKnight 's "Ethnobotany" , a workbook used i n conjunction with Botany classes 2320 and 5452 off�red at Eastern Illi nois University at Charleston . The work book represents a series of exerci ses on plants and their impact and importanc� to man . At present , there is no s ingle book that offers explanations and comments on the diversity of plants that appear in this workbook . The purpose of this paper , therefore , is to bri ng together such information in one work , with the hope that it wi ll be useful in fulf i lling the assignments required of the workbook . Included are di scuss ions of the cryptogams , i.e. the bacteri a, algae, fungi, bryophytes , pteridophytes , horsetai ls , psi lopsids , and club mos ses; various plants used as fumitories and masti catories , spices , medicinals , hallucinogens , and poisons . Within a particular section , attempts have been made to introduce the subject with relation to its historical discovery; to compare and contrast specific plants or genera concerning their present bonafide uses and past folklore uses ; to describe their preparation for u s age ; and to state what cultures , i f any , are the primary users of a particular plant . In the discussion of poi sonous , hallucinogenic, and medicinal plants , an attempt has also been made to elaborate bri efly upon the chemical and physiological effects of the active principles involved. Appearing at the end of each section are lists of the common names of plants mentioned in that section , with their appropri ate scienti fi c names and family names . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wi shes to thank the fo llowing people for thei r assistance in the compl etion of thi s work : Dr . C. B. Arzeni for having faith in me and for the many facets of guidance he provided; Drs . R. L. Dardi ng and W. C. Whi teside for their constructive comments and cri ticisms ; Dr . T. M. Weidner for encouraging this type of study; Valer i e Keener for encouragement and proofreading; Greg Oseland for proofreading; Eastern Illinois University for a graduate assistant- ship; Kathryn Priebe , my mother and typist; and The other members of my family for the ir support, encouragement , and fai th . ii TABLE OF CONTENTS .... ......... ........... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..... ......... LIST OF TABLES ........................................ iv I. Introduction 1 II . Cryptogams 2 III . Fumitories and Masticatories . ............ 30 IV. Spices . 38 56 V. Poisonous Plants . VI . Hallucinogenic Plants 83 . 102 VII. Medicinal Plants . 122 VIII. Literature Cited . ......................... iii LIST OF TABLES 1. Spice Table Listing Some Common Spices and their Uses .................................. 4 4 iv INTRODUCTION This project i s intended to bring together , in one _ paper , information concerning the ethnic uses of plants ci ted in the workbook , "Ethnobotany ", written by C. B. Arzeni and B. N. McKnight. The workbook represents a series of exercises on plants and their impact and importance to man . It i s hoped that the material contained herein wi ll be usefu l in working the assign ments found in the workbook . The goal i s not to offer a comprehensive work in the field of ethnobotany , but rather to deal with a few selected topics which the author considers of interest and of lasting importance . It is also intended to pre sent botany of interest and appeal to the nonspecialist. This paper addresses itself to the aspects of economic botany that inc lude cryptogarns , spices, fumi tories and masticatories , hallucinogens , poisons , and medicinals . Concerning each o f these, an attempt is made to elaborate on their history , various methods of preparation and utilization , folklore and bonafide uses , and the countries and cultures of their origin. 1 CRYPTOGAMS The term "cryptogam " probab ly holds little meaning for anyone but the botanist. It is a term used in some of the earliest plant classification systems known to man . Included in this category are all the plants with concealed reproduc- tive organs , that is to say, plants whose reproductive organs are unobservable without the aid of magnification . In fact , the term cryptogam comes from the Greek words kruptos meaning "hidden" and gamos meaning "wedded " (Smith 1955). Historically , the plants now recognized as fungi , algae , and bryophytes were at one time classified as a single unit. Later, the fungi and algae came to be considered as the lower cryptogams , and the bryophytes , along with the p silopsids , lycopsids , sphenopsids , and pteridophytes , became known as the higher cryptogams ( Doy 1 e 19 7 O ) • Cryptogamic plants are found in all environments capable of supporting life . They are in the soil , water , and air, in or on living or nonliving hosts , and may be found in diverse habitats which range from hot springs to arctic regions . The diversity of their distribution is equaled by their diversity in form and economic significance . The first part of this paper will deal with both the positive and negative aspects of the significance of some of the cryptogams . In dealing with systems of classification lines of 2 3 demarcation are often difficult to define . At times it becomes necessary to "pigeon hole'' an organism or even an entire group of organisms. Such is the case with the bacteria. Bacteria are primitive forms of life posses sing characteristics of both plants and animals. The current view is to "pi geon hole" the bacteria into botanical sys tems of classification. Proof of the existence of these organisms had to await the development of instruments that would greatly increase the re solving power of the human eye . Thus it can be deduced that the bacteria have concealed reproductive structures , and so should be discussed as c ryptogams . As previously inferred , the bacteria are microscopic in size . Because of this, we are frequently unaware of their presence. However , the bacteria are possibly the most ubiqui tous of all the cryptogams , i f not of all living things . Many are the disease causing enemies of man. The real significance of the disease causing organisms can be appreciated if we con sider the tremendous impact of epidemics in a world ignorant of their pres ence . The time prior to Pasteur could be consid ered as some of the blackest in history , when disease ruled the world . In those times , disease spread with the populace , often changing the course of history . Armies unconquerable by man were defeated by these infinitely smal l organisms , and entire cities , even nations , were wiped out in single epidemics. Ranking high among the bacterial diseases which claimed lives were typhoid fever, dysentery , cholera , and diphtheria. We often think of autumn as being a me lancholy season. Perhaps this sterns from the age when typhoid fever and 4 dysentery could be expected to take many lives at that time of the year . Typhoid fever is frequently a seasonal disease occurring in the late summer and early autumn months. The disease o�ganism is Salmonella typhosa, a species of bacteria . It is spread by water , shellfish , and other types of food . Those who suffer the disease and recover from it may be chronic carriers of the organism . It may grow in the gall bladder , liver , bile ducts , kidneys , or intestinal tracts of convalescents , and their fecal material may contain virul ent microorgani sms for the rest of their lives ( Gebhardt and Anderson 1964) . The typhoid bacterium mus t be ingested to do harm . Therefore , the best prevention is by maintenance of sanitary drinking water and food supplies . A vaccine is also avail- able . The causative agent of bacillary dysentery may be one of several species of the genus Shigella. Perhaps the most infectious is � dysenteriae , which is seldom encountered in the United States .