scarlet globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb.
Medicinal Documentation
The plant would be finely ground, leaves, stems and roots, and steeped to make a sweet tasting tea that was mixed with bad medicines to make them more palatable. Additional commentary: Today, sugar, peppermint, and wild cherry are used for this purpose and identified as phamaceutical aids.
Infusion of plant used to make a tea that was drunk for swellings
Infusion of plant used reducing swellings.
The plant is ground up fine, leaves, stem, and roots and is steeped in water, the infusion to be mixed with other medicines. The tea, having a sweet taste, makes other and sometimes bad-tasting medicines more palatable.
Ceremonial & Cultural Notes
The plant was rubbed on their hands to protect Contrary Society members when they pulled dog meat out of boiling water in the Clown Dance. The plant used in this ceremony had to have four stems, one for each cardinal direction Additional commentary: Northern Cheyenne elders explained that members of the contrary society used this plant in ceremonies. When a Contrary Society member encountered red or scarlet globemallow when he was out looking for wild turnips, it would be frightening.677 Moerman also indicates its use as an adjuvant.678 Another name for this plant is Malvastrum coccineum.679
Botanical Reference
Parts Documented: plant, leaves, roots, stems