Plants of Ethnobotanical Importance

The presence of native peoples, miners, settlers, and hunters has left various impacts on the land and also built a rich history of tradition and connection with plants—each group of people had their own set of plant names, uses, and superstitions. Through oral histories, written records, and current practices, we are able to explore those views and build our own relationships with some of Denali’s most ethnobotanically important species. The species listed below are organized by their most common uses.

 

Prickly Rose

NPS Photo / Damian Popovic

Buildings & Construction

• Betula neoalaskana – resin birch
• Picea glauca – white spruce
• Picea mariana – black spruce
• Populus balsamifera – balsam poplar

Medicinals

• Achillea millefolium ssp. borealis – boreal yarrow
• Achillea sibirica – Siberian yarrow
• Artemisia tilesii – stinkweed
• Rhododendron tomentosum ssp. decumbens – Labrador tea

Edible Berries

• Ribes triste – northern red currant
• Rubus arcticus – nagoonberry
• Rubus chamaemorus – cloudberry
• Vaccinium uliginosum – bog blueberry
• Vaccinium vitis-idaea – low-bush cranberry

Other Edible Plants

• Chamerion angustifolium – tall fireweed
• Pedicularis lanata – woolly lousewort
• Rosa acicularis – prickly rose
• Rumex arcticus – arctic dock

Disclaimer:

This information is not a substitute for a plant identification guide, and we take no responsibility for misidentification of wild plants. Information provided is offered solely for educational purposes. No consumptive uses are encouraged. Please note even commonly consumed plants can cause adverse reactions in some people. Many traditional uses of native plants are contraindicated by medical research, and in any case should not be attempted without the guidance of a medical professional. This website and its editorial board specifically disclaims any liability, loss, injury, or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the consumption of any botanical product.