Capitol Hill in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Medicinal Natives
Here you can see plants that Native Americans used to treat wounds, illnesses, and medical disorders.
See if you can find these in the garden:
Hercules'-club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis)
Known informally as the "toothache tree." Used to treat dental pain and inflammation.
Fourleaf yam (Dioscorea quaternata)
Contains an estrogen mimic used to relieve menstrual cramps.
Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Used to treat wounds, headaches, indigestion, fever, and constipation.
Virginia strawberry (Fragoria virginiana). Leaves used to treat upset stomach, headaches, and rheumatism.
[Captions:]
American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Native Americans used the bark and stems to make a topical lotion for cuts, skin inflammation, and insect bites. Infusions were used to treat colds, sore throats, and fevers.
Partridge berry (Mitchella repens)
Traditional medicine practitioners used the leaves and stems to treat female reproductive concerns including preventing miscarriage, inducing labor, and reducing pain in labor.
Erected 2023 by U.S. Botanic Garden.
Topics.
this page online
Location. 38° 53.286′ N, 77° 0.743′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Capitol Hill. It can be reached from Maryland Avenue Southwest west of 1st Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands on the grounds of the U.S. Botanic Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Maryland Avenue Southwest, Washington DC 20515, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Citrus (a few steps from this marker); Grains (within shouting distance of this marker); Capitol Square, SW (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Botanic Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Capitol Square (within shouting distance of this marker); James A. Garfield (about 300 feet away); Cranberry Bog (about 300 feet away); Onion Farm (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
While most signs on the grounds of the U.S. Botanic Garden do not serve as historical markers, this one does because it shares the history of how humans have used the plants medicinally.
— Submitted June 21, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
