UC Merced Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

Title Cross-Cultural Folk Classifications of Ethnobotanically Improtant Geophytes in Southern Oregon and Northern California

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Journal Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 19(2)

ISSN 0191-3557

Author Todt, Donn L

Publication Date 1997-07-01

Peer reviewed

eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California 250 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY

Adjacent Regions. American Anthropolo­ the Far West. These cross-cultural, geographi­ gist 40(3):384-415. cally variable, and idiosyncratic taxonomies have Sampson, C. Garth been used by Native Americans, Euroamerican 1985 Nightfire Island: Later Holocene Lake- marsh Adaptation on the Westem Edge of settlers, anthropologists, and historians to clas­ the Great Basin. Eugene: University of sify various species of Native American foods. Oregon Anthropological Papers No. 33. Portions of these taxonomies survive in field Skinner, Craig E. notes, ethnographies, and historical sources, as 1983 Obsidian Studies in Oregon: An Introduc­ well as within the folk vocabularies of Native tion to Obsidian and an Investigation of Selected Methods of Obsidian Characteri­ American and Euroamerican peoples. Those who zation Utilizing Obsidian Collected at Pre­ incorporated these categories into oral and writ­ historic Quarry Sites in Oregon. Master's ten descriptions during the early postcontact pe­ thesis. University of Oregon, Eugene. riod have left anthropologists to puzzle out their Spier, Leslie intended taxonomies as best they can. 1930 Klamath Ethnography. University of Cali­ fomia Ihiblications in American Archaeol­ An analysis of these folk categories provides ogy and Ethnology 30. a better perspective with which to evaluate eth- nobotanical aspects of the ethnohistoric record, enabling anthropologists to more accurately iden­ tify plants mentioned in ethnographic, historical, and folk literature. In turn, this has enabled an­ thropologists to better evaluate the role of geo­ phytes in the economies of native peoples of the Far West. Historically, the role of these plants Cross-Cultural Folk Classifications in indigenous economies has been largely un­ of Ethnobotanically Important appreciated; for example, a lack of understand­ Geophytes in Southern Oregon ing of the complexity and finesse involved in and Northern California identifying, harvesting, processing, and storing these resources contributed to a derogatory use DONN L. TODT of the term "digger." Investigation of geophyte Ashland Parks Department, 340 S. Pioneer, .'Ashland, species and their role in the presettlement econo­ OR 97520. mies of the Far West is important, for it has led to a re-evaluation of the significance of these A confusing variety of common names has been applied to "rootfoods" used by Native resources, as well as a concomitant re-evaluation American peoples in the Far West. This anal­ of the importance of women's contributions to ysis references many of these names to current subsistence in traditional Native American econ­ scientific nomenclature. Such analysis pro­ omies (Hunn 1981; Thorns 1989; Prouty 1995). vides a foundation for a better understanding of the role of these foods in the economies and Edible geophytes, most of which are found in cultures of indigenous peoples. This report the Apiaceae and Liliaceae families, are an enig­ concentrates on ethnographically recorded matic group of plants, both for botanists and an­ species in the Oregon-California border re­ thropologists.^ Botanists, using different criteria gion, although the framework is more broadly applicable. for assigning species designations, have shifted plants from one taxon to another. The vernacu­ lar nomenclature is even more confusing. Dis­ ELASTIC and inexact folk taxonomies exist for tantly related plants are often given the same geophytes ("roots")' used as food resources in common name, and individual species frequendy REPORTS 251 have a plethora of common names. One particu­ even distandy related geophytes. In die Pacific lar problem is that Europeans and Euroameri- Northwest, such genetically unrelated plants as cans immigrating to the Far West encountered a Lomatiums might be camas (Turner 1978:101). vast array of unfamiliar plants, for which they Thus, in its most broadly applied sense, camas had no appropriate referential names. Native may refer to many plants that are dug for food. American peoples, on the other hand, had—and In some cases, the term may be more restrictive, in some cases stUl have—a particularly fine­ referring to plants which look like camas. Gen­ grained nomenclatural system for the geophytes erally, diese plants are in the lily family. upon which they have depended for sustenance. In his notes on the Takelma Indian language For example, whde the Sahaptin speakers of the of southern Oregon, linguist J. P. Harrington Columbia Plateau differentiate 14 different kinds seems to have used camas in the inclusive sense of Lomatiums, in the same locale botanists dif­ of "plants within the lily family" when he indi­ ferentiate only 12 (Hunn and French 1981:87). cated four different "kinds" of camas, including In 1966, a Shasta Indian elder, Sargent Sambo, camas itself (Camassia quamash) (Gray 1987: speaking with regard to food plants, said "You 95). The other species noted as camas may in­ wouldn't understand if I told you because you clude scarlet fritillary (Fritillariarecurva), pussy don't know my people's language" (Olson 1960: ears (Calochortus tolmeii), and Henderson's Appendix). I believe that Sargent Sambo was fawn lily (Erythronium hendersonii). In his dis­ referring to a lack of equivalent nomenclature cussion of "roots" gathered by the Atsugewi, between Shasta and English. Garth (1953:138) also used camassia (the genus This report concentrates on folk taxonomies name for camas) in an inclusive manner with as applied primarily to edible geophytes in reference to a member of the lily family, Di- northern California and southern Oregon (see chelostemma multiflorum (formerly Brodiaea Fig. 1, Tables 1 and 2). These two areas have multiflorum). physiographic and biogeographic continuity such Two other categories of camas used in south­ that most ethnobotanically important species ern Oregon and northern California are "white have ranges on both sides of the arbitrary state camas" and "death camas," both of which usu­ border. Examples will be offered from this re­ ally refer to poisonous plants of the Zigadenus gion, although the framework is more broadly genus in the lily family. Members of this genus applicable. often grow in association with true camas (Cam­ assia quamash). Although the flowers, seeds, CAMAS and seedheads of Zigadenus differ appreciably The use of the word "camas" as a category from those of camas, the bulbs of the two genera predates the period of Euroamerican contact. are remarkably alike. Ray (1963:199) reported The word is perhaps of Nootka (Nuu-chah-nulth) that the Modoc ate "white camas" (Zigadenus origin and is a Chinook jargon term with refer­ venenosus) after lengthy processing to remove ence bodi to "sweet" and to die plant category the toxins. However, most Native American "camas" (Gatschet 1890:152; Thomas 1935:58- peoples carefully avoid the plant, since poi­ 59). The word "camas," as used in die lexi­ sonings have been known to occur (Turner and cons of many indigenous Pacific Northwest peo­ Szczawinski 1991:106-107). There is a possibil­ ples, most commonly refers to the plant and edi­ ity that "white camas" refers to a member of ble bulb of Camassia quamash, sometimes called the Brodiaea complex, Triteleia hyacinthina, a blue camas. However, as a folk classification, liliaceous plant which also has white flowers. die term may be highly elastic, encompassing An additional possibility is that "white camas" 252 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY CA S

a^__ wqua ^

/ ^—•—1_ c- CAD E 1 I ^ COLUMBIA PLATEAU 3 Umpqua > Valley 2 m ^.^f^ 1 »^ y^ L."^ \ 1*^

Rogue LI Klamath 7^ \yalley >. Basin GREAT r> 2 OREGON BASIN tJ V :-! .^^ . CALIFORNIA j NEVADA i ( Shasta •n ^ .^•^Y H Valley O \ > Scott ^-v -c: 1 Valley 1 1 ^ V CD m • MX SHASTA § / \ > / o Z f 1 -0 1 Pit River 1 •^ < T V ^ -N- %_ 'er /

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Fig. 1. Map of northem Califomia and southem Oregon, showing areas discussed in text. is a reference to Lomatium canbyi, a species qua Valley of southern Oregon. Camas has also found on the Modoc Plateau, but which is been known as "wild hyacinth" because of its known as "white camas" on the Columbia Pla­ resemblance to the Mediterranean species. An­ teau, where Ray did a considerable amount of other name from the historical exploration litera- ethnographic work (Ray 1932; Turner et al. ttire referring to camas is scUla (Sperlin 1930: 1980:64). On the odier hand, since Ray's (1963) 222; Eastwood 1945:340). account is so detailed, it is difficult to entirely dismiss it.' EPOS AND YAMPA It should also be noted that a whitish true Ipos is an anglicization of a Shasta Indian camas (Camassia quamash) grows in the Ump­ word (Gatschet 1890:151) rendered ip'-haws by REPORTS 253

Table 1 BOTANICAL EQUIVALENTS FOR FOLK TERMS APPLIED TO ETHNOBOTANICALLY IMPORTANT GEOPHYTES IN SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Botanical Nomenclature Folk Term" Allium spp. *wild onion, wild garlic A. madidum swamp onion A. validum swamp onion Brodiaea spp. •Indian potatoes, *grass nuts, cacomite, wild hyacinth Calochortus spp. Indian potatoes, *Sego lily, *Mariposa lily, wild tulip Camassia quamash *camas, blue camas, sweet camas, white camas (in the Umpqua Valley), scilla, wild hyacinth, Indian potatoes Chlorogalum pomeridianum *soaproot, soap plant, amole Claytonia lanceotata *spring beauty, Indian potatoes Dichelostemma spp. *Indian potatoes, *grass-nuts, cacomite, wild hyacinth, snake-heads Fritillaria recurva red bells, scarlet fritillary Lewisia rediviva bitterroot Lilium pardalinum tiger lily Lomatium californicum *'ik'-nish, wild parsnip, wild celery, incense root, hog fennel, angelica L. canbyi *biscuit-root, white camas, turnip, wild turnip, couse(?) L. cous *biscuit-root, *couse, turnip, wild turnip L. dissectum wild parsley, wild celery, Indian balsam, 'ik'-nishO) L. macrocarpum wild parsley, biscuit-root, sheep parsnip L. piperi biscuit-root, turnip, wild turnip Pediomelum esculentum prairie potato, Indian breadroot Perideridia spp. *ipos, *yampa, *wild carrot, Indian carrot, wild caraway, squaw root, Queen Anne's lace, Indian potato Sagittaria spp. •Indian potatoes, *arrowhead, *wapato, tule potato, swamp potato Sium spp. wild parsnip, water parsnip Triteleia hyacinthina •Indian potatoes, white camas(?) Valeriana edulus tobacco-root Zigadenus spp. •death camas, zygadene hly, white camas, bitter onion

" The most common usages are indicated by an asterisk.

Merriam (as cited in Bright and Olmsted 1959: ations in spelling, pertains to plants widiin die 29). This term, widi many variant spellings, be­ genus Perideridia as well. Yampa is anglicized came a loanword used by many tribes, as well as from die Paiute term ya-pah, meaning "water is by some Euroamericans in die Far West. The here" (Trejo 1985:10). term generally refers to edible plants within the In his edinography of die Shasta Indians, genus Perideridia. Yampa, also widi many vari­ Dixon (1907) recorded ipos as belonging to die 254 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY

Table 2 FOLK TERMS APPLIED TO ETHNOBOTANICALLY IMPORTANT GEOPHYTES IN SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Folk Terms Botanical Nomenclature amole Chlorogalum pomeridianum angelica Angelica spp.; Lomatium californicum biscuit-root Usually tahetouBLomatium spp. or/., spp., with large, edible roots; Examples: L. canbyi, L. macrocarpum bitterroot Lewisia rediviva; Lomatium spp. (especially in the Columbia Plateau) breadroot Pediomelum esculentum (formerly Psoralea esculenta) cacomite Brodiaea spp. camaB Inclusive: bulbous or tuberous plants which are dug for food. More restricted: Liliaceous geophytes which are dug for food. Restricted: Camassia quamash camas, blue Camassia quamash camas, death Zigadenus spp. camas, sweet Camassia quamash camas, white Zigadenus venenosus and other Zigadenus spp.; Lomatium canbyi (especially in the Columbia Plateau); Triteleia hyacinthina(l); a white- flowered fonn of Camassia quamash (Umpqua Valley) caraway, wild Perideridia spp. carrots, Indian or wild Inclusive: geophytes which are dug for food. Specific; Perideridia spp. celery, Indian or wild Various species of pbnts having greens used for food; Lomatium dissectum; L. californicum couse (many variant spellings) Lomatium couse; tuberous Lomatium spp. garlic or wild garlic Allium spp. grass-nut Brodiaea spp.; Dichelostemma spp. hog fennel Lomatium californicum hyacinth, wild Camassia quamash; Brodiaea and Dichelostemma spp. ' ik' -nish Lomatium californicum; L. dissectum{7) incense root L. californicum Indian balsam L. dissectum ipos Perideridia spp. onion, poison Zigadenus spp. onion, swamp Allium validum; A. madidum onion, wild Allium spp. parsley, desert Lomatium spp. parsley, wild Lomatium spp., especially those with edible greens; L. dissectum parsnip, cow Heracleum lanatum parsnip, Indian or wild Lomatium spp., particularly/,, macrocarpum and L. californicum (in drier areas); Heracleum, Sium spp. (in wet areas) parsnip, sheep probably Lomatium macrocarpum potato, Indian or wild Inclusive: plants having bulbous or tuberous parts which are dug for food. Specific: Brodiaea spp., Dichelostemma spp., Triteleia spp. (especially in Califomia); Pediomelum esculentum (in southeastern Oregon); Claytonia lanceolata (in southeastern Oregon) potato, prairie Pediomelum esculentum (in southeastern Oregon) potato, swamp or tule Sagittaria spp. Queen Anne's lace Usually refers to Daucus carota; occasionally refers to Perideridia spp. red bells Fritillaria recurva scilla Camassia quamash Sego lily Calochortus spp., usually C. bruneaunis (formerly C nuaallii) soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum soaproot C. pomeridianum snake-heads Dichelostemma spp. squaw-root Usually Perideridia spp. sweet potato, Indian Lomatium spp. tobacco root Valeriana edulus tulip, wild Calochortus spp. turnip, Indian or wild Lomatium spp., particularly those bearing tubers wapato Sagittaria spp. yampa Perideridia spp. REPORTS 255 genus Calochortus. He was followed in this by to," or "tule potato" are used in reference to nearly every anthropologist who worked with, or species of Sagittaria, also known by die Chi­ wrote about, the Shasta, including Curtis nook jargon term wapato (Gatschet 1890:153; (1924:111), Voegelin (1942:57), Holt (1946: Strike 1994:137). In much of California, "Indi­ 308), and Bright and Olmsted (1959:29). How­ an potatoes" often refer to the corms of species ever, regional ethnobotanical works indicate that within the Brodiaea complex; Brodiaea spp., Di­ ipos refers to plants within the genus Perideridia chelostemma spp. and Triteleia spp. In Califor­ (Coville 1897:101; Ray 1963:498). In addition, nia's Shasta and Scott valleys, "snake-heads" while Calochortus species are uncommon and designate plants now included within the genus disjunct within the California Shasta territory, Dichelostemma (M. Carpelan, personal commu­ Perideridia spp. are widely distributed, and in nication 1995). Three other terms which are some areas, quite abundant. Additional names sometimes used for the Brodiaeas are "caco­ applied to the genus Perideridia include "wild mite," "wild hyacinth," and "grass-nut" (An­ carrot," "wild caraway," "squaw-root," "wild derson 1992:19; Strike 1994:29). J. P. Harring­ potatoes," and "Queen Anne's lace" (Mead ton (1932:73) used the Aztec/Spanish term "ca­ 1972:262-263; Davis and Hendryx 1991:132). comite" for Brodiaea within Karuk territory along the lower Klamath River of northern Cali­ INDIAN POTATOES fornia. "Wild hyacinth" refers to the resem­ Camas, ipos, and yampa are Native Ameri­ blance that the Brodiaeas bear to a distantly re­ can folk categories which were incorporated into lated Mediterranean species. "Grass-nut" is de­ the vocabularies of some Euroamericans during scriptive, referring to the narrow leaves of the and after the contact period. The newly arrived Brodiaeas, as well as to the edible corms. settlers relied as well upon more familiar En­ "Nut-grass," on the other hand, refers to an glish terms for the unfamiliar foods consumed unrelated species of sedge. by indigenous peoples. The most common of "Indian potatoes" may also refer to plants diese categories is "potato." The potato itself widiin the genus Calochortus, as well as to is of South American origin, but probably "spring beauty" (Claytonia lanceolata) (DuBois spread to die Northwest Coast of Nordi America 1935:20; L. Housley, personal communication via trading ships. It preceded the Euroamerican 1996). Pediomelum esculentum (formerly Psora- settlers in southern Oregon; Native Americans lea esculenta), which grows in Harney County, were busy growing potatoes in the Umpqua Val­ soudieastern Oregon, has been known as "prai­ ley at least as early as die 1830s (Barry 1929:49; rie potato" and "Indian breadroot" (Harrington Suttles 1987:149). Because die potato was fa­ 1967:203; Hickman 1993:640; L. Housley, miliar both to indigenous peoples and to Euro­ personal communication 1996). american settlers, the English term "Indian pota­ INDIAN CARROTS toes" came to be applied to many Native Ameri­ can geophyte resources. The term "Indian pota­ Euroamerican settlers used additional English toes" is highly elastic and may indicate virtually vernacular categories from their language in ref­ any geophyte which is dug for food, or more erence to unfamiliar Native American foods. specifically, it may refer to a particular species These categories include "Indian carrots," or group of species (Anderson 1992:19). "wild parsnips," and "wdd turnips." Of diese, In die Pacific Nordiwest, in die Klamadi "Indian carrots" is the most inclusive term. It Basin of soudiern Oregon, and in odier marshy parallels "Indian potatoes" in that it may have areas, die terms "Indian potato," "swamp pota­ multiple references or it may refer to more spe- 256 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY cific plants. In the southern Oregon and north­ The folk categories of "wdd parsnip," ern California region, the term "Indian carrots" "biscuit-root" and "wdd turnip" have some­ often refers to the genus Perideridia, since both times been applied to certain species of Loma­ carrots (Daucus carota) and most Perideridia tiums. In drier locales, "wdd parsnip" may spp. are sweet and may be eaten raw. Carrots refer to the large-rooted but nontuberous species and Perideridia spp. are within the same family, of Lomatium, such as L. macrocarpum and L. Apiaceae, and have similar flower and foliage californicum, both of which are common in morphologies. In addition, the roots of some southern Oregon and northern California. In species of Perideridia are shaped somewhat like wet locales, the term "wild parsnip" usually carrots. refers to die cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), or sometimes to water parsnip (Sium spp.). WILD ONIONS Schenck and Gifford (1952), in their detaded "WUd onions" or "Indian onions," like treatment of Karuk ethnobotany, attached the "Indian potatoes" and "Indian carrots," may be name for an important medicinal plant, ik'-nish, an inclusive reference to bulbous geophytes to the genus Osmorhiza. In their carefully re­ which are dug for food, although "wild onions" searched and illustrated update of Karuk ethno­ is usually a more specific reference to plants botany, Davis and Hendryx (1991) pointed out within the Allium (onion) genus. Descriptive that ik'-nish should more appropriately be used terms may be used to further differentiate the as a reference to Lomatium californicum, a much onions. For example, "swamp onion" refers more robust and aromatic plant. Merriam (1979) both to the widespread A. validum (Fowler maintained that the Shasta plant name ik'-nish 1986:69), and to A. madidum, an onion species referred to Leptotaenia dissecta (now Lomatium known to die Oregon Burns Paiute (Couture et dissectum); however, the Shasta currently use al. 1986:152). "Wdd garlic," applied to plants the term ik'-nish when referring to Lomatium within the Allium genus, usually parallels "wild californicum (M. Carpelan and B. Hall, personal onion," although it may have specific applica­ communication 1995-1996). Other terms for L. tions as well. californicum include "incense root," "hog fennel," and "angelica" (Mead 1972:120). THE LOMATIUMS: WILD PARSNIPS, "Angelica" may also be a reference to the aro­ BISCUIT-ROOTS, AND WILD TURNIPS matic, medicinal, and ceremonial roots of plants The genus Lomatium was an ethnobotanical­ within the genus Angelica. ly important group of plants for which Euro­ "Biscuit-root" generally refers to tuberous american settlers had little or no cultural ref­ species of the genus Lomatium, or nontuberous erence. This genus, largely concentrated in species with large, edible taproots (Couture western North America, is the largest within the 1978:43-47). Included in this group are such Apiaceae family. The many species of Lomati­ species as L. macrocarpum, L. piperi, L. canbyi, um have served as greens, medicinal and cere­ and L. cous. The latter species is sometimes re­ monial plants, and dietary staples for many ferred to as couse, with a number of alternate indigenous western North American cultures. spellings, and this term is sometimes applied to Although they seem to have been most important die odier tuberous Lomatiums as well. as food resources on the Columbia River Plateau Because of a resemblance in shape, "turnip" (Hunn and French 1981), Lomatiums have been or "wild turnip" are probably also references to used for food, as well as for other purposes, in die ttiberous Lomatiums (Kniffen 1928:302; de southern Oregon and northern California. Angulo 1950:340, 343, 360). "Desert parsley" REPORTS 257 or "wild parsley" may refer to nearly any of the fers to Chlorogalum pomeridianum. In Califor­ Lomatium species, although "wild parsley" of­ nia, sometimes die Spanish word "amole," ten indicates those species having greens that are originally a reference to the soap-producing used for food. "WUd parsley" has also been Agave and Yucca species, generalizes to the used as a reference to L. dissectum, which native genus Chlorogalum (Vines 1960:80, 84; Strike peoples have sometimes used as a fish poison 1994:40, 167-168). Th& wots of Valeriana edu­ (Garth 1953:137; Meilleur et al. 1990). lus, an ethnobotanically important geophyte in The Lomatiums have engendered a plethora the Klamath Basin, may be known as "tobacco of common names, many of which refer to par­ root" (Covdle 1897:104-105; Ray 1963:218). ticular species or closely related groups of "Red bells" is a local name applied by contem­ species. The following folk names have been porary Shasta to the regionally endemic Fritillar­ used in the Pacific Northwest: white camas, ia recurva (Holt 1946:308; M. Carpelan, per­ camas, bitterroot, wdd turnip, Indian sweet pota­ sonal communication 1996). to, Indian consumption plant, and Indian celery (Turner 1978:101-108). In California, die folk CONCLUSION terms bladder parsnip, cough root, incense root, A multiplicity of folk names exists for most pesde parsnip, and sheep parsnip have been used species of economically useful geophytes. These for plants within the genus Lomatium (Strike folk taxonomies, diough elastic, inexact, and 1994:84). geographically variable, often have a regional internal logic and consistency. In the absence of FOLK CLASSIFICATIONS specific referential Latin nomenclature, analyses FOR OTHER GEOPHYTES of biogeography, folk taxonomy, and regional Folk classifications for a variety of other comparative use categories help identify which geophytes have also been recorded. "Tiger lily" species were used in which places by indigenous is commonly used in reference to Lilium pardali­ peoples. Such analyses provide a foundation for num or one of its subspecies. In the drier east­ a better understanding of the role of geophytes ern locales of southern Oregon and northern in the economies and cultures of Native Ameri­ California, "Mariposa Uly" is usually a refer­ can peoples of the Far West. ence to large-flowered Calochortus species, such NOTES as C. macrocarpus. "Sego lily" is sometimes 1. Radford et al. (1974:316) defined a geophyte as used in reference to C. bruneaunis (formerly C. "a plant life form, a perennial that regenerates each nuttallii). Due to its resemblance in flower year from underground and protected bulbs, tubers, form, "wUd tulip" is a term also applied to rhizomes or corms." plants within the genus Calochortus. 2. Botanical nomenclature is according to Hick­ man (1993), except for Allium madidum, which is ac­ "Bitterroot" (Lewisia rediviva) is found most cording to Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973). abundandy on the Columbia Plateau, aldiough it 3. According to Ray (1963:199), "Another plant is found in southeastern Oregon and northeastern extensively utilized by the Modoc is of especial im­ portance because it is poisonous in the raw state. California as well. Any reference to "bitter­ This is the so-called white camas, also known as root" will generally be to this species. Some­ death camas or deadly zygadene. A leaching process times, however, "bitterroot" may refer to spe­ known by the Modoc rendered the bulbs edible. cies of Lomatium (Turner 1978:102), used in op­ They were ready for harvesting soon after the camas season, in late July, thus prolonging the root-digging position to "sweet roots" such as camas or ipos. season, a significant economic advantage. The bulbs Within the northern California-southern were gathered from moist, grassy places in the mon­ Oregon region, "soaproot" or "soap plant" re­ tane coniferous forests, carried to the village, and 258 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY cleaned of their tunicate coverings. They were then de Angulo, Jaime dried and placed in tule sacks. Leaching was accom­ 1950 Indians in Overalls. Hudson Review 3(3): plished by immersing the sacks in a steadily flowing 323-377. stream for three days, after which they were again Dixon, Roland B. dried and placed in storage." 1907 The Shasta. Bulletin of the American Mu­ seum of Natural History 17(5):381-498. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Du Bois, Cora I thank Mary Carpelan and Betty Hall of the Shasta 1935 Wintu Ethnography. University of Cali­ Nation for sharing information about Shasta plant fomia Publications in American Archaeol­ nomenclature, and Lucile Housley, Lakeview District ogy and Ethnology 36(1). BLM ethnobotanist, for information on folk taxono­ Eastwood, Alice mies in southeastern Oregon. Thanks to Nan Harmon 1945 An Account and List of the Plants in the for perceptive conunents and editorial assistance, as Brackenridge Joumal. Califomia Histori­ well as to three anonymous Journal reviewers for cal Society Quarterly 24(4):337-342. their helpful suggestions. Fowler, Catherine S. REFERENCES 1986 Subsistence. In: Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 11, Great Basin, Anderson, Kat Warren L. d'Azevedo, ed., pp. 64-97. 1992 At Home in the Wilderness. News from Washington: Smithsonian Institution. Native CaUfomia 6(2): 19-21. Garth, Thomas R. Barry, J. Nelson 1953 Atsugewi Ethnography. University of 1929 Use of Soil Products by Indians. Oregon Califomia Anthropological Records 14(2). Historical Quarterly 30(2):43-52. Gatschet, Albert S. Bright, William, and David L. Olmsted 1890 The Klamath Indians of Southwestern 1959 A Shasta Vocabulary. Kroeber Anthropo­ Oregon. 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