12-month calendar of Ho-Chunk plants

1. Wakirikirik Red Elm (Ulmus rubra) Wakirikirik ci[ta[xu[ u] eja wagina[ u[]eja maa u]. Red elm is used for making fires, making rope & for making medicine. Wood harvested any time. Inner bark peeled in spring. January 2009

2. Kšo-hi -- Cattail ( Typha latifolia ) Wi]ci[hu reju rugop anaa waruc ;aje. Ks~o-hihoz~i~i ra taniorohic eja hi ue s~uua. Wi]ci[hu naap hi;uanaga wi]ci[ ue na. Dig cattail root to eat. Cattail fuzz was used in diapers. Make mats of cattail leaves. Harvest tubers early spring; down and leaves in fall.

3. Kecasi White water lily ( Nymphaea odorata ) Kecasi reju z~e;e nagopire s~uua. Kecasi rejuna rugop aje. Tuc hi aje. They used their feet to get those lotus roots out. Dig the white water lily roots. Cook. Harvest roots in spring

4. Mai – Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca ) Mai horuce ra roha waruc pi[ena. Hu ra anaa hikaak ra waruc uena. Many parts of the milkweed are edible. Shoots and flowers are edible. Shoots harvested early spring, flower buds early summer and pods in summer.

5. Maaeres ~ Calamus, Bitterroot (Acorus calamus ) Maaeres~ rejuna rugop aje. Ho]xi[wi s~;ugiz~i, nias~jak naap hiz~auaje. Dig up the bitterroot root. Make a tea for a cold. Roots were harvested in spring and summer

7. Hasi – Yarrow (Achillea millifolium ) Tok giz~i, hasi na ap ra wahi aje. Nias~jak naap ra uanaga wa;i rus~jahi aje. Gather yarrow leaves in summer. Make tea to make blood stop. Harvest while it blooms, usually in May and June

8. Hašje[k Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) Has~jek ra as hire na. Strawberries taste good. Blooms in June April 2009

9. Toke[wihi -- Prairie turnip (Psoralea escuelenta ) Toke[wihi reju[na rugop aje. Rejuna wus hi aje. Ni[]aatuc hi aje. Dig the prairie turnip roots. Dry the roots. Make soup. Roots are dug in summer while plants are still visible.

10. Poaxu-- Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa ) Poaxuhikaak anaga ap ra xu ra gijiraire na. Flowers and leaves of bee balm are used for skin problems. Blooms May through July May 2009

13. Has~suc -- Wild Rose (Rosa arkansana ) Has~suc anaga hokirac ra hisge nias~jak naap hotek wa;i gijiri na. A tea of wild rose and other plants has been used in the treatment of bleeding wounds . Rose hips ripen in July through fall. June 2009

14. Ka -- Wild plum (Prunus americana ) Ka caniga, ka ra wehi, ruc anaga wus hi aje. Gather, eat and dry plums in fall. Fruit is ripe in July or August. July 2009

15. Xaika Wild Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) Inio[kewe[ ho;ueja hoxiwi;ugiz~i xaika hi;ue na. Wild sage is used ceremonially in the sweat bath and for colds. Harvest in late summer and fall August 2009

16. Pex hišuc Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) Pex his~uc reju[ s~u[c u]. eja maa]n u]. This root of bloodroot was used for making red dye and making medicine. Blooms early spring, harvest in fall after leaves die off. September 2009

17. To[ -- Common groundnut (Amphicarpaea bracteata) To[ reju ca[ni k;e[ eja ni[paau[ Common groundnut roots were dug in fall for soups. October 2009

18. Pai Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Pai reju k;e[]re eja ni[]paa waruc ure[. Dig the roots of this Jerusalem artichoke and make soup. Dig the root in fall after the flowers are gone. November 2009