- Sweet grass
Taxobox
name = Sweet Grass (inter alia)
image_width = 220px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Liliopsida
ordo =Poales
familia =Poaceae
genus = "Hierochloe "
species = "H. odorata"
binomial = "Hierochloe odorata"
binomial_authority = (L.) P. Beauv.Sweet grass ("Anthoxanthum nitens"), also known as Sweetgrass, Holy grass, buffalo grass, Vanilla grass, Manna grass, Seneca grass, Mary's grass, Zebrovka, or Bison grass, is an aromatic
herb which grows in northernEurasia andNorth America . It is used inherbal medicine and manufacture ofalcoholic beverage s (seeŻubrówka ). It owes its specific aroma to the presence ofcoumarin .Habitat: Very hardy native perennial. Native to North America as well as Europe. Grows to about 60 cm in height, leaves grow 60 cm long by late summer. Base of leaves, just below soil surface is broad and white, without hairs, underside of leaves are shiny, no hairs
Propagation: Easiest by cutting out plugs from established plants. Grown in sun or partial shade, they do not like drought.
Distribution: Northern America: Canada; New England States. Asia-Temperate: Europe: from Switzerland north. Only one site in Ireland, and four counties in Scotland; making it very rare in the British Isles.
Harvesting: Cut grass in early to late summer at the desired length, hang to dry in sun for a few days. To make braids, simply place the dried sweetgrass in warm water for a few minutes, braid and hang out of the sun to dry. Sweetgrass harvested after the first frost has little or no scent.
Uses
African American Traditions
African Americans, particularly those coming from the
Gullah tradition, use this plant to weave artistic baskets. These are often sold on roadsides and in many air open markets in theSouth Carolina Low Country. Many visitors toCharleston return with Sweetgrass Baskets.European traditions
Sweet grass was strewn before church doors on saints' days in northern Europe, presumably because of the sweet smell that arose when it was trodden on. It was used in France to flavor candy, tobacco, soft drinks, and perfumes. Widely used in North American indigenous practice and syncretized by
neo-pagan practice. In Europe, the species "H. alpina" is frequently substituted or used interchangeably. In Russia, it was used to flavor tea. It is still used in flavored vodka, the most notable example being PolishŻubrówka .Native American Traditions
Sweet grass was, and is, very widely used by North American indigenous peoples. As a sacred plant, it is used in peace and healing rituals. Leaves are dried and made into braids and burned as vanilla-scented incense; long leaves of sterile shoots are used by Native Americans in making baskets.
* Natives of the Great Plains believe it was the first plant to cover
Mother Earth .
* TheAnishinaabe ,Cree ,Mi'kmaq , and other Algonquian first nations of Canada believe it is a purifier, and burn sweetgrass before all ceremonies. It is a reminder to respect the earth and all things it provides.
* It is also used in ceremonial items by the Blackfoot and Lakota peoples.Incense used by at least theBlackfoot ,Cheyenne , Dakota,Kiowa , Lakota,Menominee , Montana,Ojibwa , Omaha,Pawnee ,Ponca ,Sioux , and Winnebago peoples. Used for purification, as oblations to ancestors, for protection of spirits, and keeping out of evil and harm. Used in a variety of ceremonies including peace ceremonies and initiations.
* Used by Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota, Montana,Okanagan-Colville , Omaha, and Thompson for cosmetic and aromatic purposes.Blackfoot andGros Ventre use leaves soaked in water and used it as a hairwash. Sweet grass tea and smoke were used for coughs and sore throats (Flathead ,Blackfoot ). Teas used as a wash to treat chapping andwindburn , and as an eyewash. Used as body & hair decoration/perfume by Blackfoot, Flathead, and Thompson.
* TheBlackfoot chewed grass as a means of extended endurance in ceremonies involving prolonged fasting.
* Iroquois, Kiowa,Malecite , Menominee, andMi'kmaq people (amongst others) use sweetgrass in basketry (including mats) and crafts.
* Kiowa use fragrant leaves as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.
* Used for sewing at least by Menominee.
* Used as an incense to "keep the bugs away" by Flathead.
* Used byCheyenne to paint pipes in the Sun Dance and the Sacred Arrow ceremonies.Sweetgrass has a mellow, almost soporific effect, and for many is a useful aid to entering a meditative state.
Coumarin , although not known to possess psychotropic effects, is common to a number of herbs used ritually which have strong anecdotal evidence for at least mild psychotropic properties. Fact|date=April 2008References
Guédon, Marie-Françoise. "Sacred Smudging in North America", Walkabout Press 2000.
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