Not all the prairies are the same. They vary across North America depending on climate and
soil conditions. In Winnipeg we have the prairie type called the "tall grass" or "true prairie".
Tall grass prairie is characterized by lush grasses, numerous wildflowers and rich Red
River Valley soils. At one time, tall grass prairie covered an area one and one half times the size of Manitoba
and extended from Winnipeg south to Texas. In Manitoba alone, the tall grass prairie covered one and a half million
acres. Today, there are 32 acres of tall grass prairie and 8 acres of aspen forest found within the Living Prairie
preserve.
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Big bluestem is the dominant grass of the tall grass prairie. As summer approaches, you will begin
to see the tall blue-purple stems of this signature grass species. By summer's end, the big bluestem
growing before you will have attained heights of 1 to 2 meters! Early settlers often referred to
big bluestem as "turkeyfoot" because its seedhead branches out like the foot of a turkey.
Culturally, it was significant to the Aboriginal Peoples of this region as it was the main food source for
the bison.
Other common grasses include Indian grass with
their brown or copper seedheads, the tall and bunchy switchgrass,
and needlegrasses with their long slender stems.
Ethnobotany is the study of how animals and humans use plants. Ethnobotany began on the tall grass prairie
with the Aboriginal Peoples. For them, knowledge of the plants in their environment was imperative to their way of life.
Of the various aspects of ethnobotany perhaps the most recognizable and easy to understand is the medicinal properties
of plants. The most common drugs used today are still, for the most part,developed in laboratories and synthetically produced.
In many cases scientists are reproducing chemicals which are found naturally in some plants. Interestingly, we are also
seeing a growing interest once again in the usage of plants for medical treatments.
The provincial flower of Manitoba and the first plant to been seen blooming in the spring is also
valued for its medicinal properties. The Aboriginals would use the crushed leaves to treat
rheumatism and other painful ailments. The plant was also extensively used because of its qualities as a diaphoretic
and a diuretic.
More examples of medicinal prairie plants: the wild rose whose
'hip' berries
are rich in vitamin C and wild licorice whose roots can be used to treat ulcers.
Many of the plants on the tall grass prairie have a great deal of cultural value and significance.
On the prairie the Aboriginal Peoples used many of the plants for ceremony and ritual. The plants themselves were a part
of sustaining their culture. In many cases, the cultural value of the plant is not as clearly defined as a plant's
medicinal or nutritional properties. Yet it's value should not be mistaken for any less significant.
If you are looking for more information on ethnobotany, regional history, tall grass preservation and
seeds for growing your own prairie garden, please visit our Prairie Bookstore.
