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- 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. - 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. - Cottonwood Teepees
Description: South Coyote Buttes, Arizona-Utah Border. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Coyote Bridge
Description: Coyote Gulch, Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Coyote Gulch
Description: Coyote Gulch, Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Death Hollow, Utah
Description: Death Hollow, Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Death Hollow, Utah
Description: Death Hollow, Escalante National Monument, southern Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)
Common name: Desert Broom Scientific name; Baccharis sarothroides Description: An evergreen shrub with dense thin branches, fine green new-growth twigs, and small fall-blooming flowers. Dye: None. Other uses: As suggested by the English names, the thin terminal twigs have been bundled at the end of a pole to make a broom. Also used by the Pima to create a roof thatching. - Desert Cattail (Typhus dominguensis)
Common name: Cattail Scientific name: Typhus dominguensis Description: Tall reed-like perennial with long narrow leaves and soft, dense flower spikes. Uses: The Pima use the split, dry stalks for coiled basketry. The cattail flower, wupdaj, can be used to make pillows - mo'ochkud is 'pillow.' Both the roots and flowers/pollen are also edible. Pollen also played(s) a role in ceremony for many Native American people. - Edge of TIme
Description: Hackberry Canyon, Utah. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - 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. - Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
Common name: Cottonwood Scientific name: Populus fremontii Description: A fast-growing deciduous tree with furrowed gray bark on mature tree parts and light green smooth bark on new stems. Leaves are broad based and roughly triangular, with toothed edges. Uses: Predominantly used as fuel and for construction. Parts may be processed for use as chewing gum (Apache, Acoma/Laguna, Navajo). Also used for a wide variety of medicinal/ceremonial/symbolic purposes (including hair/textile dyes), in addition to carvings (such as kachina dolls), basketry, and tool parts (esp. handles for lithic blades). - Grand Falls, Arizona
Description: Grand Falls, Little Colorado River, Arizona. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories. - Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.)
Common names: Ephedra, Mormon Tea, Joint Fir Scientific name: Ephedra spp. Description: A somewhat woody shrub with thin jointed green stems bare of leaves. Dye: Yellow from the stems. Other uses: Widely used as a potent medicine - typically brewed as a tea - by Acoma, Apache, Cocopah, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Isleta, Navajo, Papago, Pima. - Muley Point
Description: Winter Sunrise on Cedar Mesa, overlooking the goosenecks of the San Juan River. Collection: Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories.