Betulaceae

paper birch

Betula papyrifera Marshall var. occidentalis (Hook.) Sarg.

Indigenous Names: Ni:yo:’oeno (Meaning: “Yellow Shrub Plant”), ? pa-gwai’-uv, čhaŋhásaŋ

Habitat: Open to dense, dry to moist sites; foothills to sub-alpine; Alaska to Colorado; Found commonly along montane stream banks, slopes, and ridges, also in moist open woods, at edges of marshes, along lakeshores, and in wet swales; it is distributed from British Columbia, Canada into Colorado and New Mexico.

Seasonality: Not given; Not given 135

Status: Native

Medicinal Documentation

Lakota

beggartick, mnióhuta aglágla, Infusion of whole plant is used to alleviate pain and it is also used as an

Ceremonial & Cultural Notes

Arapaho

Spiritual/Religious: Used as one of the ceremonial digging sticks in the Sun Dance Commentary: Earlier references referred to the plant as Howo”u:bi:s or “Praying Bush.”45 | Spiritual/Religious: Used to construct a sweatlodge to resist attack from buffalo. If buffalo would butt the lodge this wood would stick into the animal Commentary: Earlier references referred to the plant as Howo”u:bi:s or “Praying Bush.”47

Ute

No stated use for the plant

Botanical Reference

Parts Documented: Branches, Not specified in the literature, whole plant

Distribution: Native to North American Plains; widespread regional distribution

View on USDA Plants Database ↗