SCIENCE
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
April 18,1990
Page 3
Northwest native plant identification and their uses
by Richard Man
Staff Writer
the tribes. One of the textbooks,
Ethnobotanv of Western Wash
Webster defines ethnobotany
ington bv Ema Gunther, deals with
as “the plant lore of a race or
these uses.
people: the systematic study of
“Although this book deals with
the tribes of western Washington,
such lore.” This is largely what
the Northwest Plant Identifica
tion and Uses class ;s about. Taught
the plant uses are essentially the
same as for the Willamette Valley
by botany and biology instructor
Indians,” said Misley.
Bob Misley, the class meets on
“As this is a hands on class,
Thursday afternoons.
First of all, this course will
we will also learn .first hand on
serve to introduce students to wild
plants of the Pacific Northwest
well, derived dyes from plant
region, especially those species of
be assigned a specific plant from
Western Oregon. A brief study
which a certain dye was obtained.
will be made on plant taxonomy
Plant materials used will only be
how the Indians, and pioneers as
materials. The students will each
(classification) including Linneaus
from extremely common and/or
and the binomial nomenclature
weedy varieties. Included will be
upon which all organisms are
horsetail rush, blackberry roots,
presently classified.
“Students will also be brihg-
and aider bark. White woolen yam
will be immersed into the resul
ing in leaf and flower specimens
tant dyes, and people will be able
for identification during dass,”said
to see how well the preparations
Misley.
really work.”
“Here, they will learn how to
The students also may work
use the keying system of the bo- .
on optional projects as planned
tanical texts. Also, we will be us-
with agreement from their instruc
ing several different books, no-
Trillium ovatum can be seen In the Native Garden, in the Pauling Courtyard, and other locations
tor. Many of these projects in
table of which is the Handbook of j on campus. This is one of two species of tri III u m that Is native to the Willamette Valley.
clude photography
Northwest Flowering Plants bv
sketching.
Photo by Soott Johnson
and
plant
Helen Gilkey. This will serve as a
first and last name. The last name
and southwestern Oregon,” Mis
indiscriminate collecting. There
“Some may even work on
good introduction to field of bot? •
refers to the person’s family while
ley added.
will be supervision to prevent any
helping in working on the CCC
the first name refers to the indi
identification, we will observe*/ vidual person. Only in the Graeco-
“Theclass will also be taking
rare species being collected or the
biology department’s herbarium
several field trips where we will be
collecting of plants, such as trilli-
collection. This is a collection of
which plants are truly wild or na-
Latin, the first and last names are
searching out wild plants in their
ums, which are unable to renew
pressed and mounted plant speci
five to the region and which ones
reversed. Take the common dan-
natural environments. Included in
their damaged parts.
are alien or non-native. These latter •delion, which is classified as Ta^
have either escaped from cultiva- i raxacum officinale. Taraxacum is
tionor have come in as stowaways,
thegroupor dandelion genus, while
usually in the form of seeds, with
officinale refers to the species or
this is the Camassia Native Plant
“However, the major empha
Preserve and the woods behind
the CCCcampus/’Misley said.
sis ofthis class is not only to teach
students wild plant identification,
Each student will be required
but also to show the significance
some other materials.”
individual kind of dandelion. It
to identify a specific number of
that many of these plants had for
would be like my name Bob Mis
plants each week On the first week,
the local native American cul
ley, only in reverse-Misley, Bob.”
only one plant is needed and then
tures,” said Misley.
“The student will realize that
Harrington. “This books’s pur
The Pauling Courtyard was
planned to specifically be a home
with each additional week will be
added an extra to the number. In
here we have not only a pretty
pose is specifically to help the
for a collection of plant species
other words, two plants for the
wild flower or tree, but also the
second week, three for the third
week and so on.
plant in question was most likely
of a very practical use to a tribe.
any,” Misley stated. “Besides plant
Botanical terminology will be
learned through another book,
How to Identify Plants by H.D.
mens filed and catalogued accord
neophyte botanist or gardener to
native to Oregon. “Each week that
we meet, the students will keep
cal terms. Most botany texts also
have a glossary of terms in the
records of the various plants ob
Also, the student is to have
Perhaps the plant was even neces
served in the garden. The students
his own collection of plant speci
sary for the tribe’s physical and/or
back to help one with any unfa
will each keep a journal in which
mens, including examples of dif
cultural survival,” Misley said.
miliar words,” Misley commented.
they will take notes of plants ob
ferent leaf and floral structural
Included in this study will be
served both in the garden and out
types. Misley emphatically stated
a brief examination of Oregon
be covered with a special empha
in the field. There are several
that “this collection is to be only
Indian tribes and their territories.
sis on Linneaus and the binomial
habitats in this native garden,
of individual leaves and flowers,
Along with this will be some of
not entire plants!”
the plants that were of major use
nomenclature. Misley explained,
including a marsh, dry, and moist
“the term ‘binomial’ refers to each
shaded areas(for plants of various
plant and animal having a two-
part namefor scientific classifica
tion. Think of it as like a person’s
types of woodland habitat) and a
destroy plants as many are now
include on their identification cards
dry-land rock garden for those
becoming increasingly rare due to
such information as native Ameri
found east of the Cascade divide
development, overgrazing and/or
can names and possible uses by
This is so as not to damage or
Along with uses, Misley will
discuss briefly some of the bio
chemistry that makes up plant
compositions. Covered here will
be some of the various compounds
relating to medicinal and herbal
acquaint himself with the techni
A brief history of botany will
ing to their families,” said Misley.
to them. Also, the students will
properties.
“Although this will be a class
with much work, it will be a fun
class. Occasionally, we have visi
tors drop by who have previously
taken this class. They comment
on how much they have learned
and how much they enjoyed the
class. This shows how much influ
ence that a course such as this has
had on people. It also reveals an
expansion of one’s awareness of
the plant life around him and how
really important plant life as a
whole is to mankind,” Misley said.
NOT FOR THOSE WHO
THINK ALIKE,
BUT FOR THOSE WHO
LIKE TO THINK.
ATKINSON
MEMORIAL CHURCH
Sixth & John Adams, Oregon City
The ReverendMr. Richard K Bellingham, Minister
COMING I!
APRIL 22, 1990
"DOWN TO EARTH**'
Public Services
Adult Forum
Attended Nursery
Church School
11:00 AM
9:30 AM
9:30 AM
9:30 AM
A
i
1
If
Castilleja hispida, a species of
(except Aug. 1-Sep.15)
Indian paintbrush, has been
successfully raised from seed
Erigeroncompositus, the mountainfleabeane daisy, feels right at
home In the rock garden at Pauling Courtyard.
in the Native Garden.
Photo by Scott Johtwon
Photo by Scott Johneofi
centimeters
1
49.25
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38.62
-0.18
-0.04
28.86
0.54
0.60
16.19
-0.05
0.73
8.29
-0.81
0.19
Z 1
3.44
-0.23
0.49
23
72.46
-24.45
55.93
26
24
iI
25
I
72.95 H 29.37
54.91
-38.91
13.06
16.83
30.77
-49.49
68.80
27
43.96
52.00
30.01
28
29
30
345
81.29
50*88
-12.72
-27*17
-29.46
Colors by Munsell Color Services Lab
L*
a*
b*