Rosaceae

American plum

Prunus americana Marshall

Indigenous Names: kȟáŋta, Yuseke Parawaskeke Kuisiseke Su:kui, Meaning: Early plum, Late summer plum, Fall plum, Also dried plum as it falls to the ground and, One particular plum, Ma?xe-menotse, Mae-meno?estse, Mak-u-mins, Pank-ai-da-lo

Habitat: Thickets in prairies, woodlands, pastures and riverbanks; Dry to moist; open sites; plains to montane; southern Northwest Territory, Canada to New Mexico; Thickets in prairies, woodlands, riverbanks Plants Parts Harvested: Fruit

Seasonality: Midsummer into fall; Not given; Midsummer to fall; Mid-summer to fall

Status: Native

Traditional Food Use

Lakota

The fruits are eaten raw or dried for later use.

Comanche

Fruits eaten dried and stored for later use

Ute

Eaten raw | Ute: Sun dried for winter use

Cheyenne

Fruits, sugar and flour used to make a pudding. Fruits pulverized, sun dried, boiled and eaten as a delicacy. Also, sun dried plums stored for winter use

Kiowa

Fruit gathered in great quantities and used immediately. Fruit gathered in great quantities, dried and stored for winter use.

Medicinal Documentation

Cheyenne

Fruits were crushed, mixed with salt that was obtained from Oklahoma, and used as part of a medicinal mixture to treat a kind of mouth disease Additional commentary: Mary Fisher and Charles Sitting Man reported that the fruits were crushed, mixed with salt that was obtained from Oklahoma, and used as part of a medicinal mixture to treat a kind of mouth disease.564 In addition, Moerman indicates a ceremonial use.565

Botanical Reference

Parts Documented: fruit_or_berry, fruit, fruits

Distribution: Native to North American Plains; widespread regional distribution; Dry to moist; open sites; plains to montane; southern Northwest Territory, Canada to New Mexico

View on USDA Plants Database ↗