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The Trefoil Muse

Words are art on paper, and for me they are the seeds of my soul.

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« Guest Post: Nadine Gordon On Canada
Vultures – Chapter 5 »

Buffalo Beans

June 8, 2021 by Nadine Gordon

This golden flower is known as a buffalo bean, prairie bean, golden banner and prairie pea.  These flowers  bloom during 

late May or early June. The buffalo bean can be found in open sandy areas of the prairie and aspen forests where water tables are high. 

The golden bean flowers were once used as a cure for stomach disease and its roots used as a horse medicine.

Dye was made from the yellow flowers and used by the First Nations People to color arrows and skin bags.

Most importantly, the appearance of this golden pea-like flower was used as a form of phenology (study of nature) by the First Nations People because upon its arrival, the spring hunt for buffalo bulls could resume.

 

Warning:  The pea shaped pods of a buffalo bean should never be consumed as they are poisonous!

 

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Posted in Media Room, Short Stories | Tagged Alberta, blog, buffalo beans, creative writing, dye, First Nations People, natural healing, nature, prairie, wild flowers | 4 Comments

4 Responses

  1. on June 8, 2021 at 10:23 am Terry

    Thanks for the interesting info! I photographed these last year on one of my walks.

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on June 8, 2021 at 10:27 am Nadine Gordon

      I always get excited to see the Buffalo beans blooming! The bring back such happy childhood memories!

      LikeLiked by 1 person


  2. on June 10, 2021 at 3:36 pm roughwighting

    They’re so pretty! And look nothing like a buffalo. 🙂 Fascinating history of this yellow-flowered “bean.”

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on June 10, 2021 at 5:05 pm Nadine Gordon

      No they don’t look like a Buffalo! Lol
      I love these little yellow flowers! They bring back happy memories of family gatherings on the prairie 😊

      LikeLiked by 1 person



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