Medicinal and Other Uses of North American Plants: A Historical Survey with Special Reference to the Eastern Indian Tribes

Over the course of five centuries, a comprehensive and chronological historical record has been compiled detailing the utilization of native plants, trees, and shrubs in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States by North American Indians. "You can't go wrong."—Botanic & Herb Reviews.   Spanning the last 500 years, this exceptionally detailed and well-researched guide focuses primarily on the ways North American Indians have used plants, trees, and shrubs for medicine, food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. The plants are native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, although some are also found as far south as Florida and Texas and as far west as the Pacific coast. In addition to extensive chronological historical citations dealing with documented usages of plants as far back as the fourteenth century, this book provides data to enable even amateur botanists to identify plants in the field. Thus, accounts of herbalists, explorers, botanists, doctors, and scientists are accompanied by useful information about the plant’s range, common and scientific names, nontechnical physical descriptions, and more. To make the book especially easy to use, plants are grouped according to habitat: wet open places, woods and thickets, and dry open places. Moreover, a detailed line drawing of the plant’s leaves, buds, twigs, seeds, and other characteristic features accompanies the textual descriptions. Scholarly, yet readable, exceptionally thorough but never dull, this classic reference belongs in the library of botanists, naturalists, herbalists, ethnologists, archaeologists — anyone interested in the long and fascinating story of how plants have served humanity. “Charlotte Erichsen-Brown is a noted and inspired student of the ethnobotany of eastern North America. She has completed a study of great imagination and energy. Whether on a library’s reference shelf or in a backpack along the trail, her work will inform and educate, and often amaze.” — J. L. Riley, Botany Department, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.   Comprehensive Guide to North American Plants: Delve into the extensive use of native plants by North American Indians over the last 500 years as herbal and natural remedies for medicine, food, clothing, and shelter. Historically Rich Insights: Explore detailed historical accounts and citations from the fourteenth century onwards, highlighting how plants have been integral to survival and culture in North America, including Eastern Canadian Provinces. Detailed Identification Tools: Equipped with non-technical descriptions, scientific and common names, and detailed line drawings, this book is a vital resource for amateur botanists and nature lovers, enabling easy identification of plants in the wild. Plants Categorized by Habitat: Find plants organized into accessible categories based on their natural habitats - wet open places, woods and thickets, and dry open places. Illustrated for Enhanced Understanding: Each plant description is accompanied by a detailed line drawing, highlighting leaves, buds, twigs, seeds, and other distinguishing features. Praised by Experts: Endorsed by J. L. Riley from the Botany Department, Royal Ontario Museum, this book is a valuable reference for scholars and a fascinating read for anyone interested in the ethnobotany of eastern North America. Read more