YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
" Stewards of the Natural Environment "
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
The Science and Conservation Center Native American Medicinal Plant Garden
Many native plants played a major role as a food source, building material or Indian medicine of the region. While the garden's collection and other plants throughout the Yellowstone Arboretum and ZooMontana grounds represent only a fraction of the useful plants and pharmacopoeia of our regional tribes, the Native American Plant Garden and collection at the Science and Conservation Center is meant only to introduce the visitor to, and instill an interest in this fascinating cultural subject.
FEATURED PLANTS
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Crow: Baala buxa
A tonic was made from the sap of the spring or fall tree and used to treat fevers, diarrhea, venereal diseases, jaundice and urinary infections. This same tea was said to be a good substitute for the "Peruvian bark" (quinine) for malaria-like ailments. The white powder-like coating on the trunks of adult trees was also used as a form of sunscreen. The Aspen makes up the largest known organism on earth, known as the Pando Colony, with a single tree branching out underground to produce several acres in size !
In the arboretum, emerging Aspen colonies can be found on the east and west ends of the Lynx pathway and at the northwest corner of the front entrance wall
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Cheyenne: he tan i mins
Also known as Juneberry, the fruits of the Serviceberry were eaten raw in season, or dried and stored as a raisin-like food, or mashed and cooked in a puree. The berries were also mixed with pulverized dried meat and animal fat to make the famous pemmican, which was a winter staple of the Plains Indian.
The native Saskatoon Serviceberry can be found on the north hill of the Sensory Garden and in front of the Lynx habitat.
Snowberry (Symphoicarpus albus)
Crow: Bitdaja
This versatile plant was used for many medicinal purposes. The pulverized root and leaves and fruit were used as a poultice for skin burns, woumds and irritations. The Sioux made a tea from the berries for sore eyes. A tea was also made from boiled twigs and used to treat fevers, colds, stomach aches and menstrual disorders. The Crow made a tea from the roots to treat constipation in horses.
The Snowberry is native to the grounds of ZooMontana and can be found at the Lynx habitat, the north side of Chickadee Trail and just west of the Wolf viewing ramp.
Alder ( Alnus glutinosa)
Blackfeet: A-muck-ko-iytis)
Also known as river alder, black alder or brown alder, a tea was made from the bark and used for swollen lymph glands in the neck, constipation, jaundice and diarrhea. Berries were used as a worm medicine for children. Blackfeet, Kootenai, Flathead and NeZ Perce boiled the bark to make reddish brown or orange dye. The Blackfeet made a tea from the bark for tuberculosis and Kootenai women drank this tea for menstrual problems.
The best examples of Black Alders at the arboretum are located in front of the Vulture habitat and at the lower Otter viewing area.
Dr.Jay Kirkpatrick was a driving force in the development of ZooMontana and was its first Conservation Biologist. Jay was also the founder of the Science and Conservation Center on the grounds of ZooMontana. He was well known for developing the use of PZP (Porcine Zona Pellucida) Immunocontraception, in the field, for humane wildlife population control. Jay respected the Native American culture and their use of medicinal plants, some of which he started at the Science and Conservation Center.
For a complete listing of Medicinal Garden plants and descriptions: