Home / Keyword environment 232
- Big Bursage (Ambrosia ambrosioides)
Common names: Bursage, Canyon Ragweed Scientific name: Ambrosia ambrosioides Description: A perennial shrub with large gray-green leaves triangular leaves; develops spiny burs (the fruit). Dye: None. Other uses: The Tohono O’odham (Papago) used canyon ragweed in sweat baths to relieve arthritic pain. No known uses among the Pima, however, the plants are largely associated with arroyos - a'akĭ. - Saguaro Ribs
Subject: The woody ribs of the Saguaro were used as fencing and house construction material. - Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)
Common name: Ocotillo Scientific name: Fouquieria splendens Description: Tall, woody cactus with small green leaves and red flowers. Dye: None. Other uses: Among the Papago and Pima, ocotillo has been used for fencing, house walls, and ramada roofs. The cut, buried stems often root, creating a living fence. The flowers may soaked in cold water to make a refreshing beverage. Portions of the plant were also formerly used for medicinal purposes. - Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.)
Common name: Prickly Pear Scientific name: Opuntia spp. Description: A variety of prickly pear species grow in the Southwest, all with large fleshy pads and dark red to purple fruits. Dye: Ground up cochineal (a scale insect that feeds on prickly pear) were processed by native peoples to create red or purple textile dyes. In Europe this color of dye was so rare that only royalty could afford it. In some kingdoms the colors “royal purple”(derived from a sea cucumber) and, after discovery of the New World, royal crimson from cochineal, were reserved for the king by law. Cultivation and export of cochineal dye became a major economic activity, and its source was kept secret for many years. Other uses: Pads and fruit may be prepared as food or beverage by Acoma, Apache, Laguna, Cochiti, Havasupai, Hopi, Isleta, Navajo, Papago, Pima. Isleta have used dried pulp for candlemaking. Also used for medicinal/ceremonial/symbolic purposes by several groups. - Christmas Cholla (Opuntia leptocaulis)
Common names: Christmas Cholla, Desert, Christmas Cactus; sometimes confused with Pencil Cholla Scientific name: Opuntia leptocaulis Description: A narrow-stemmed cactus with pale yellow flowers, small bright red fruit, and long golden spines. The fruit remains on the plant even in the winter. Dye: None. Other uses: May be prepared as a food or beverage by Acoma, Hopi, Laguna, Maricopa, Navajo, Papago, Pima, and Yavapai. Considered a famine food by Acoma/Laguna. - Englemann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
Common names: Prickly Pear, Cactus Apple Scientific name: Opuntia engelmannii Description: Englemann prickly pear is the largest of Arizona's prickly pear species, with large pads and dark-red to purple pear-shaped fruits. Dye: Rose-colored from fruits. Other uses: Food and medicine. - Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa)
Common names: Beargrass Scientific name: Nolina microcarpa Description: Beargrass is a large clumping grass with narrow fibrous leaves. Dye: None. Other uses: Widely used in basket and/or mat weaving. - Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens)
Common names: Saltbush, chamisa Scientific name: Atriplex canescens Description: Common Southwest shrub with golden flowers in the summer and early fall, followed by winged seeds in late fall and winter. Dye: Bright yellow from the flowers and twigs. Other uses: in baking and as medicine. - Mahonia (Berberis haematocarpa)
Common names: Mahonia, barberry, desert holly Scientific name: Berberis haematocarpa Description: A relatively large evergreen shrub with glossy, sharp-pointed leaves. In spring, the mahonia produces bright yellow flowers, followed by small purple berries in mid-summer. In the fall, the leaves turn red and purple, and remain those shades through the winter. Dye: Brilliant yellow from the roots and bark. Other uses: edible berries. - Cliffrose (Cowania mexicana)
Common names: Cliffrose, Quinine-bush Scientific name: Cowania mexicana Description: Small shrub with cream-colored, small rose-like flowers in the early summer and fall. Dye: When mixed with pounded juniper branches, cliffrose produces a tan dye. Other uses: shredded bark padding, arrows, and as medicine. - Oracle, Arizona
Description: A basin dominated by prickly pear cactus and shrubby grown in the lower elevations surrounding the Santa Catalina mountains near Oracle, northeast of Tucson, Arizona. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Coastal Plain
Description: Assateague Island National Seashore, MD, VA. Collection: National Park Service. - Edge of TIme
Description: Hackberry Canyon, Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Fall Reflections
Description: West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, northern Arizona. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Water Sculpture
Description: Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories.