Vitis shuttlesworthii—The Miccosukee call this grape balbe or cokasî:. The name in Creek is Grapes were an important food to indigenous people, and the stems were a source of emergency drinking water. It is hard to beat wildlife to these sweet fruits. (See p. 707.) Zephyranthes simpsonii—“Rain lilies” appear suddenly after spring and summer rains. That sudden emergence has led to names like brujita (little witch), and duende (little devil), “fairy-lilies,” and “Zephyr-lilies.” The Seminoles used Zephyranthes as an analgesic against toothache. (See p. 733.)

ABSTRACT

Because M. virginiana grows from Massachusetts southward along the coast to Florida and west to Texas, it is associated with several other species used by indigenous people. The Rappahannock in Virginia have been reported to use M. virginiana as a stimulant or “mild dope” (Moerman 1998), although that seems unlikely. Regardless, the Choctaw and Houma used the leaves and twigs to “warm the blood,” and the same decoction was used to treat colds (Bushnell 1909, Speck 1941, Vogel 1970). The Biloxi of Louisiana made a tea from bark and leaves and used it to promote perspiration (Dorsey and Swanton 1912). Probably the use of Magnolia is underreported because it shares the common name tola with Persea and Ocotea.