White Prairie Sage - Wozupi App

General Details

Dakota Name:

Waḣpeḣota

Scientific Name:

Artemisia ludoviciana

Alternate Names:

Silver wormwood, white sagebrush, wild sage, prairie sage, wormwood, white mugwort, darkleafmugwort, lobed cudweed, man sage

Height:

Grows 1 -2 feet

Flowers:

Small, tight, greenish flower heads in clusters among the leaves near the ends of the stems. Blooms August through September.

Fruit:

Dry, smooth, broadly cylindrical seeds.

Habitat:

Prairies, roadsides, dry to sandy or rocky soils. Prefers full sun.

Plant Characteristics

A white-woolly, perennial herb with a strong odor of sagebrush. The stems are erect and often clustered. The leaves are alternate, entire to irregularly toothed or lobed.

Dakota Cultural Use

A bunch of sagebrush was sometimes used for a towel in old times. A decoction of the plant was taken for stomach troubles and many other kinds of ailments. It was used also for bathing. A person who had unwittingly broken some taboo or had, touched any sacred object must bathe with sage. It was believed to be effectual as a protection against maleficent powers; therefore it was always proper to begin any ceremonial by using sage in order to drive away any evil influences. In the ceremonies of the installation of a chief wild sage was used as a bed for the sacred pipes. It has already been mentioned that the various species of sage were used in old times as incense for the purpose of exorcising evil powers. It has also been stated that cedar twigs or sweet grass, either one, were used as incense to attract good powers. Sage was also used in purificatory rites by women after menstruation.