Lewis and
Clark Expedition for kids: Plants discovered by Lewis
and Clark
The discoveries of Lewis and Clark included 178 plants,
shrubs, trees and herbs not previously recorded for
science. Lewis and Clark collected hundreds of different
specimens of plants and recorded descriptions and information
on their habitat, growth, and their uses by Native American
Indians.
Plants discovered
by Lewis and Clark
The explorers made significant additions to the botanical
knowledge of the North American continent. President
Thomas Jefferson believed that the new plants found
on the voyages of discovery would add to the supply
of food crops and medicinal qualities of new plants
that would prove to be beneficial to the human race.
Also refer to the entries in the journals relating to:
Accounts of the Plants
Accounts of the Fruits and Berries
Accounts of the Trees
Accounts of the Shrubs
Plants discovered
by Lewis and Clark: Use of Plants by Native American
Indians
The Native American Indians made excellent use of all
the natural resources provided by plants and some of
this knowledge was passed on to the explorers. Natural
herbs were used by Native Indians to treat and prevent
illness and to aid the healing process. The Native American
Indians understood the properties of plants, how the
plants should be prepared and the quantities that were
safe to administer. Some of the herbs and plants used
were toxic or poisonous but were not dangerous if the
correct quantities were taken. The Native American Indians
used the plants and herbs in many ways. Different parts
of plants were used as remedies including the leaves,
flowers, bark, juice and roots to make powders,
poultices, essential oils, ointments and salves.
Plants discovered
by Lewis and Clark
Some of the plants 'discovered' by Lewis and Clark were
used by Native Indians in the following ways:
-
Indian Tobacco
(Lobelia inflata) had the medicinal properties of
an antispasmodic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant,
stimulant and sedative and poultices made from the
seeds, flowers and leaves of the plants could be
used as a natural remedy for asthma
-
Tansy (Tanacetum
vulgare) was one of the Aromatic plants with the
medicinal properties of a diaphoretic, carminative
(relieves intestinal gas) and tonic. The flowers
and seeds were found helpful in treating circulation
problems and as a tonic
-
The leaves and
flowering tops of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
were used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic,
narcotic, stimulant, stomachic and tonic to aid
illnesses related to indigestion problems, gastric
pain, fevers and dysentery
List of
Plants discovered by Lewis and Clark
The following is a list of plants, shrubs, herbs and
trees discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The members of the expedition took great delight in
choosing the names for the plants.
Alkali Cordgrass
American Silverberry
Antelope Bitterbrush
Aromatic Aster
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Bear Grass
Bessey's Locoweed
Big Sagebrush
Bigleaf Maple
Bitterroot
Black Cottonwood
Black Hawthorn
Blue Elderberry
Blue Flax
Blue Huckleberry
Broom Snakeweed
Buckbrush
California False Hellebore
California Hazelnut
California Rhododendron
Camas
Canyon Gooseberry
Cascade Oregon-Grape
Cat's Ears
Chocolate Lily
Cluster Rose
Clustered Elkweed
Common Snowberry
Cous
Curlycup Gumweed
Deerhorn Clarkia
Desertparsley
Disc Mayweed
Dwarf Mountain Fleabane
Eaton's Aster
Edible Thistle
Engelmann's Spruce
Evergreen Huckleberry
False Buckthorn
Fernleaf Desert-Parsley
Fernleaved Lousewort
Four-Wing Saltbush
Fragile Prickly-Pear
Gardner's Saltbush
Geyer's Onion
Giant Rye Grass
Glacier Lily
Golden Currant
Golden Yarrow
Grand Fir
Gray Rabbitbrush
Greasewood
Great Blanketflower
Green Rabbitbrush
Hair Grass
Hollyleaf Oregon-Grape
Idaho Fescue
Indian Breadroot
Indian Tobacco
Jacob's Ladder
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