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is for Native Plants. |
People have long used numerous local, native plants for food, medicine, body care, and for making clothing, baskets, cordage and many other useful objects. Following are just a few examples of plants used by people here in the San Juan Basin.
Sagebrush: leaves are a good source of iron and vitamin C. Used medicinally as tea for bathing wounds and combating digestive and respiratory tract problems, headaches and colds, and is an anthelmintic (expels parasitic worms). Wood used for fuel. Smoke used as a smudging herb.
Banana yucca: leaf blades processed and turned into cordage, nets, baskets, and sandals. Roots used as soap. Fruit and flowers eaten.
Prickly pear cacti: fruit and young pads eaten.
Chokecherry: fruit was eaten
Four o'clock: medicinal use for rheumatism.
Mountain mahogany: root and leaves used to treat stomach problems.
Rabbit brush / chamisa: stems used to make baskets.
Rocky mountain bee plant and Tansy mustard: boiled down into an extract to make paint for pottery.
Three-leaf sumac: berries used for a refreshing beverage, and for dyes. Leaves used medicinally. Crushed leaves and twigs mixed with yellow ochre and pinon pitch to make black dye for wool and baskets.
Come wind your way through the Native Plant Garden at Aztec Ruins to see some of these plants and more! Also, take a look in the museum to see some of the objects made from plant materials.
Source: www.facebook.com/AztecRuinsNM
