Acer spp. (Maple)

Maple trees were tapped for syrup in the Spring. The syrup was made into sugar and used to season other foods. It was used extensively.

Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze. (fragrant giant hyssop; wild anise)

The leaves were used to make a hot drink, and were also used as flavoring in soups.

Allium canadense L. (wild onion)

Bulbs were eaten raw, or cooked in soups with meat, or it could be fried.

Allium tricoccum Ait. (wild leek)

The corn was eaten, or used to season. It was recorded to be one of the principal foods of the Menomini Indians of Wisconsin (Dunsmore 1979).

Amaranthus spp. ( amaranth; pigweed; redroot)

The seed was ground up and boiled and eaten as a gruel. The young leaves were also boiled and eaten.

Amelachier alnifolia Nutt. (juneberry; saskatoon)

The berries were eaten fresh.

Amelachier canadensis (L.) Medic. (shadbush; juneberries)

Berries were eaten.

Amphicarpa bractcata L. (hog-peanut)

The ground beans were often stored by meadow mice, and the Indians throughout this plant’s region would seek out these stores of beans for themselves, but they would leave something for the mouse in exchange (Dunsmore 1979).

Apios americana Medic. (wild bean; ground-nut; modo)

The “wild potato” of the Dakota Indians. They ate the tubers either boiled or roasted.

Aralia nudicaulis L. (wild sarsaparilla)

Indians would eat the roots during times of war or long hunting excursions (Dunsmore 1979).

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (bearberry)

The berries were eaten. Berries also used to season meat or broth. The dried leaves were used in a smoking mixture called “kinnikinnik”.

Artemisia vulgaris L. (wormwood; sage)

Seeds eaten by Gosiute Indians of Utah (Dunsmore 1979).

Asarum canadense L. (wild ginger)

The root was eaten, either by itself or to season other foods.

Asclepias speciosa Torr. (milkweed)

The flowers were boiled and eaten by the Crow Indians. The raw seeds in young, immature follicles were also eaten.

Asclepias syriaca L. (milkweed)

The young shoots were eaten, like we eat asparagus. The inflorescences before the flower buds opened were boiled and eaten as well as the very young fruits.

Aster spp. (aster)

Leaves boiled and eaten with fish.

<-- Back ... Index ... Next -->