WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

Native Plant Nursery & Gardens

2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97301 E-Mail: Wallace W Hansen
PHONE (503)581-2638 FAX(503)581-9957

Updated July 11, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark's Bicentennial

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Long-Tailed Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)

Along Idaho's Lolo Trail, June 27, 1806

Did you ever walk through a shaded forest and discover a carpet of plants smelling of lemon and ginger? The heart-shaped leaves, the purplish-brown flowers with their pointed petals, the entire Long-Tailed Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum) plant, when crushed, has the incredibly refreshing and intriguing aroma of lemon and ginger combined. The exquisite aroma and the beautiful leaves are the most often appreciated qualities of this Northwest Native perennial. The little flowers are dainty as woodland faeries but, alas, are often shyly hiding behind the shelter of the leaves.

Native peoples of many tribes made tea from the wild ginger root to soothe stomach pains. They applied this tea as poultice for headaches, intestinal or joint pains. They used the leaves as a bath or simply rubbed them on arthritic limbs. Squamish tribes chewed the leaves as a cure for tuberculosis. And many tribes bathed with the leaves, considering them a good luck charm and protective wash. Aside from the medicinal applications, the root of the wild ginger simply tastes good and is an excellent natural flavoring wherever a taste of lemon-ginger is desired.

Documented as the Expedition traveled along the Lolo Trail in Idaho, this specimen is not included in the Lewis and Clark Herbarium's collection.

Wild Ginger is among the many Northwest Native Perennials offered by our Oregon native plant nursery. See our online catalog for complete listing, sizes and availability.

Click on picture for large view

At this time in 1806:

All arrangements being now completed for carrying into effect the several schemes we had planned for execution on our return, we saddled our horses and set out. I took leave of my worthy friend and companion, Captain Clark, and the party that accompanied him. I could not avoid feeling much concern on this occasion, although I hoped this separation was only momentary.

I proceeded down Clark's River seven miles with my party of nine men and five Indians. Here the Indians recommended our passing the river, which was rapid and 150 yards wide.

As we had no other means of passing the river, we busied ourselves collecting dry timber for the purpose of constructing rafts. Timber being scarce, we found considerable difficulty in procuring as much as made three small rafts. We arrived at 11 A.M., and had our rafts completed by 3 P.M., when we dined and began to take over our baggage, which we effected in the course of three hours, the rafts being obliged to return several times. The Indians swam over their horses, and drew over their baggage in little basins of deerskin, which they constructed in a very few minutes for that purpose. We drove our horses in after them, and they followed to the opposite shore.

I remained myself with two men who could scarcely swim until the last. By this time the raft, by passing so frequently, had fallen a considerable distance down the river to a rapid and difficult part of it, crowded with several small islands and willow bars which were now overflowed. With these men, I set out on the raft and was soon hurried down with the current a mile and a half before we made shore. On our approach to the shore the raft sank, and I was drawn off the raft by a bush and swam on shore. The two men remained on the raft and fortunately effected a landing at some little distance below. I wet the chronometer by this accident, which I had placed in my fob, as I conceived, for greater security.

I now joined the party and we proceeded with the Indians about 3 miles to a small creek and encamped at sunset. I sent out the hunters, who soon returned with three very fine deer, of which I gave the Indians half. These people now informed me that the road which they showed me at no great distance from our camp would lead us up the east branch of Clark's River and to a river they called Cokahlarishkit, or the River of the Road to Buffalo, and thence to Medicine River and the Falls of the Missouri, where we wished to go. They alleged that as the road was a well-beaten track, we could not now miss our way, and as they were afraid of meeting with their enemies, the Minnetarees, they could not think of continuing with us any longer; that they wished now to proceed down Clark's River in search of their friends the Shalees. They informed us that not far from the dividing ridge between the waters of this and the Missouri River, the roads forked. They recommended the left hand as the best route but said they would both lead us to the Falls of the Missouri.

I directed the hunters to turn out early in the morning and endeavor to kill some more meat for these people, whom I was unwilling to leave without giving them a good supply of provision after their having been so obliging as to conduct us through those tremendous mountains.

The mosquitoes were so excessively troublesome this evening that we were obliged to kindle large fires for our horses. These insects torture them in such manner, until they placed themselves in the smoke of the fires, that I really thought they would become frantic.

Captain Lewis, 3 July 1806

We can sympathize with the Corps' mosquito experiences. Our mild winter didn't deplete the mosquitoes as much as usual and as a result Oregonians are suffering the effects. Given the diseases these pesky insects carry, we're cautioned to make sure no standing water is available for their breeding grounds. For outdoor activities we do recommend a smudge* instead of a large fire for holding them at bay. Especially when the weather is warm.

*Another lesson from Native Peoples, smudge your outdoor area (or your house!) with natural materials to purify, deodorize and discourage flying insects. Bundle small branches of Kinnikinnik, pine, juniper and/or cedar together with supple grasses (or natural twine) and hang them up to dry. To use the dried bundles, light one end and wave them around the areas you want to cleanse. Especially address corners and protected pockets where bugs might congregate. Aside from the spiritual connotations sacred to Original People, a smudge will keep mosquitoes at bay as well as chemicals and smell good as well!

Current events:

The Department of Interior has released their Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Funding Sourcebook. This document has been compiled to assist States, Tribes, and communities in locating potential, existing sources of Federal, State, and philanthropic support for Bicentennial projects. See this website for more information: http://www.lewisandclark200.org/news/currentnews.html

Location: 1726 Washington Street, Oregon City, OR 97045

(503) 657-9336 (503) 557-8590

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Website staff@endoftheoregontrail.org

Description: The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was built in 1995 on the former Donation Land Claim of the first elected governor of the Oregon Country, George Abernethy. A merchant and miller by trade, Abernethy had a vested interest in the continued growth of Oregon City, so he permitted newly arrived emigrants to park their wagons, graze their oxen, and set up camp on a meadow behind his house. That meadow came to be called Abernethy Green, and for many of the early Oregon Trail emigrants, it truly was the Trail's end. 

Alternative approaches are via State Routes 213, 99-E, and 43. The Interpretive Center is just off the end of SR 213 -- turn left at the last light before the Interstate. Taking 99-E or 43 gives you the option of cutting over to Washington Street on the surface streets if you're familiar with Oregon City, but it's easier to take northbound I-205 to Exit 10 from both roads. 

Here's a handy tip for those arriving on 99-E: the entrance ramp from 99-E is a continuous lane that becomes the exit ramp for SR 213, so you are spared from having to merge with the through traffic on the Interstate.

Back Issues:

To see back issues of Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark, click on this link to jump to the index. 

Commemorative Painting by Heidi Hansen:

The illustrated map below was created by renowned botanical artist Heidi D. Hansen especially for this website. Done in ink and watercolors, Heidi shows many of the plants Captain Lewis documented overlaid atop a map showing a portion of the journey. (Click on image for large view). All the plants pictured are available from Wally Hansen! See our Spring Sale site and our online catalog for more information.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Wally

Click here to return to my Home Page

Questions about plants, click here:  Regular Email to Wally

To order, click here:  Secure Email to Wally

Comments or questions about our web site, click here: Webmaster