Homework #5 Medicinal and Edible Plants

Rachel Carson: Environmental Science Sense of Place Unit Medicinal and Edible plants Homework #5 Due Friday October31, 2008 Name ____________________________ The Native Americans of the Willamette Valley made use of many of the plants still found today in this area. Your assignment this week is to research a specific plant species that was used by Native Americans as either a medicine, food source or for building material. Choose a plant from the list below and answer the questions that follow. Resources include books in the Rachel Carson classroom, the internet, and the native plant walk later this week. The Plants: Western red cedar, Salmonberry, Cow parsnip Fireweed, Thimbleberry, Western dock Giant horsetail, Sitka spruce, Black cottonwood Red alde,r Elderberry, Huckleberry Salal, Common camas, Bracken fern Western hemlock, Douglas-fir, Yew Oregon white oak, Pacific ninebark, Nootka rose Devil’s club, Willow, Red osier dogwood Cascara, Tule, Stinging nettle Once you have chosen your plant species, answer the following questions: 1. List the common and scientific names of your plant. 2. How did the Native Americans use the plant? Be as specific as possible including how the plant was prepared for use. 3. Provide a physical description of the plant (include size, shape, leaf or needle patterns, reproductive structures, etc.) 4. Sketch a detailed example of the plant in the space below: