Pearly Everlasting

Pearly Everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea, Anaphalis intercedens, Antennaria neodioica

waabigwan (Densmore: wa'bigwun)
baasihagak (Smith: basi' baguk; Zichmarus & Hodgins: basibuguk)

Pearly everlasting is characterized by yellow-centered daisy-like flowers in a flat-topped cluster. The stems and leaves of this plant are woolly-white. Pearly everlasting is usually found on very dry, sandy soil and it is often associated with pussy toes, and orange and yellow hawkweeds. It generally is between 1 and 3 feet tall and has its leaves alternate on the stem.
(Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa)
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Both the flowers and leaves of this plant were used traditionally for their medicinal powers; the leaves were smoked to revive stroke victims, and the flowers were used in an herbal steam for rheumatism and paralysis.
(Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa)
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Used as tobacco substitutes, dried, broken into fine pieces, and mixed with tobacco, or smoked by themselves.
(Mi'kmaq Medicines and Recollections)

Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa, Meeker, Elias and Heim, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, WI, 1993