Alaska Ethnobotany

Introduction For some time, I’ve wanted to tap trees for sap, but I don’t have any tap-able trees in my yard. Land access, and access to the variety of plants living on different lands around us is a significant challenge, much more for some people than for me. As a …

Leymus mollis (Trin.) Pilg. Introduction Grasses, along with many plant fibers, played a significant role in humanity’s ability to innovate and survive. All of our ancestors found innovation within their local context. As humans gained proficiency with tools and materials, grasses and other plant fibers were fashioned into cordage, containers, …

Botanical Information Species: Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi (Pandanaceae) Common names: thatch screwpine, hala tree, pandanus Hawaiian name: pu hala (Carr, 2002) Pandanus tectorius is a dioecious member of the screwpine family of monocotyledons.  It is native to the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Malesia where it prefers coastal areas …

Throughout my research I kept finding recurring associations between Artemisia species and women’s health. All over the world, leaves have been used for a range of feminine needs such as abortions, treating menstrual cramps, reducing pain during childbirth, initiating birth, and postpartum care (I did not keep track of all …

Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilat Chaga is a parasitic fungus that grows in northern (boreal) forests on birch trees. It’s been part of Russian folk medicine since the 16th century (Spinosa, 2012, p.22-26). In fact, the word chaga comes from the Khanty language, an Indigenous people living in modern-day …