Asteraceae Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

Louisiana Sagewort

Blackfoot - Other, Malicious Charm

Use documented by:
Hellson, John C., 1974, Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa. National Museums of Canada. Mercury Series, page 40

View all documented uses for Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

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Scientific name: Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.
USDA symbol: ARLUL2 (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: Louisiana Sagewort
Family: Asteraceae
Family (APG): Asteraceae
Native American Tribe: Blackfoot
Use category: Other
Use sub-category: Malicious Charm
Notes: Stems used as a curse on horses to slacken in races. Short pieces were broken from the stem and a small, flat, white stone was collected. The man first sprayed the rock with juice from his mouth. Then the stems were placed on the ground; they represented the other horses. The stone was sprayed again and shoved toward the stems, without touching them, three times. At the fourth shove the stone was pressed into the stems. Horses so cursed were sure to slacken in the race.

RECRD: 3614 id: 5353

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