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Portfolio: Medicinal Plants of the Sicangu Lakota
Investigation
Liatris punctata also known as Dotted Blazing Star by Tash
1sagebrush19
Drawing of Liatris punctata © 1sagebrush19.
Lakota name: Tat’ é cannuga. In Lakota Liatris punctata means wind-lumped wood.
Listen to Lakota Plant Name: tat’ é cannuga
Scientific name: Liatris punctata
Common name: dotted blazing star
Lakota medicinal uses: the roots are pulverized to increase one’s appetite.
Uses by other cultures: Some plain tribes used the stems as a survival food, but it was generally used as a medicine. Most of the species of Liatris have roots that contain inulin, a polysaccharide obtained from the roots of certain plants which can’t be metabolized by humans, but it is considered a mild liver and kidney tonic. Plain tribes made blazing star tea which was used to treat kidney, bladder, and menstrual problems, water retention, gonorrhea, colic, throat inflamination, and laryngitis. It was gargled to soothe sore throats. Roots are mashed and applied to snake bites. They also simmered them in honey to make a cough syrup. In New Mexico they burned dry roots like incense and the smoke was inhaled to relieve headaches and nosebleeds, and blown into the throat to cure inflamed tonsils.
Distribution: Liatris punctata is native to the United States. It is endangered and it has no heritage rank. Its growth habitat is herbaceous. It is found in 19 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It is Endangered in Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is found in 35 of South Dakota’s counties.
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Liatris punctata var. nebraskana © Merel R. Black
Description: Some similar species include Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris scariosa, Liatris spicata, Liatris aspera, and Liatris graminifolia. Its fruiting period begins in the summer and ends in the fall. When it blooms, it is purple. Dotted blazing star grows about 3 feet high. It has many stems, and it resembles a low shrub and can grow in regions above 7000 feet. Existing or potential threats are fire, deer, and other wildlife that like to eat plants.
Some comments I had about this project are as following- I kind of enjoyed doing this project. It was something different, and it was better than doing something with a text book. I think that maybe we could do another one but not about plants, maybe animals.
Information on the Internet
Learning Information
- ToL Learner Level:
- Target Grade/Age Level:
- Type of Activity
- Sequence and Context
- Additional Treehouse Type:
- Curricular Areas:
- Language:
Education Standards
State Education Standards
- South Dakota Education Standards
- 9-12.L.1.1. Students are able to relate cellular functions and processes to specialized structures within cells.
- 9-12.L.1.2. Students are able to classify organisms using characteristics and evolutionary relationships of major taxa.
- 9-12.S.1.1. Students are able to explain ethical roles and responsibilities of scientists and scientific research.
- 9-12.S.1.2. Students are able to evaluate and describe the impact of scientific discoveries on historical events and social, economic, and ethical issues.
- 9-12.N.1.1. Students are able to evaluate a scientific discovery to determine and describe how societal, cultural, and personal beliefs influence scientific investigations and interpretations.
- 9-12.N.2.1. Students are able to apply science process skills to design and conduct student investigations. (Synthesis)
- 9-12.N.2.2. Students are able to practice safe and effective laboratory techniques.
National Education Standards
- National Education Standards
CONTENT STANDARD A: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop
- Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- Understandings about scientific inquiry
CONTENT STANDARD B: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of
- Structure of atoms
- Structure and properties of matter
- Chemical reactions
- Motions and forces
- Conservation of energy and increase in disorder
- Interactions of energy and matter
CONTENT STANDARD C: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
- The cell
- Molecular basis of heredity
- Biological evolution
- Interdependence of organisms
- Matter, energy, and organization in living systems
- Behavior of organisms
CONTENT STANDARD E: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop
- Abilities of technological design
- Understandings about science and technology
CONTENT STANDARD F: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
- Personal and community health
- Population growth
- Natural resources
- Environmental quality
- Natural and human-induced hazards
- Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
CONTENT STANDARD G: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
- Science as a human endeavor
- Nature of scientific knowledge
- Historical perspectives
About This Page
Author: 1sagebrush19
Classroom Project: Medicinal Plants of the Lakota Sioux
Lead-Deadwood High School
Lead, South Dakota United States
License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to , Lead-Deadwood High School
Page copyright © 2008 1sagebrush19
Treehouses are authored by students, teachers, science enthusiasts, or professional scientists. Anyone can sign up as a treehouse contributor and share their knowledge and enthusiasm about organisms. Treehouse contributions are checked for general accuracy and quality by teachers and ToL editors, but they are not usually reviewed by expert scientists. If you spot an error, please get in touch with the author or the teacher. For more information about quality control of Tree of Life content, see Status of Tree of Life Pages.
About This Portfolio
I would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their help with this project:
- Rev. Raymond Bucko S.J., Creighton University Department of Sociology and Anthropology
- My student mentor Devan, Kim Loeffen, Tony Beisiot, Wade Mackey, and Sharon Burns for their technical help.
- F.J. Doody, Buechel Memorial Museum, St. Francis, S.D.
- Ben Black Bear Jr. for his audio of Lakota names, St. Francis, S.D. (Author of the Introduction of Dilwyn Rogers' Book of Father Buechel's research.)
- Katja Schulz Managing Editor ToL
- And mostly, my students for their perserverence!
Page copyright © 2008