Pkuwiimakw (Joe-Pye Weed)

It’s no coincidence that the English word for Pkuwiimakw (Munsee for Joe-Pye Weed) sounds like a person’s name. It’s named after a Mohican man. 

Take that in for a moment. It’s not often – especially in Colonial America – that plants are named after people of color.

The story of how this plant came to be called “Joe-Pye Weed'' has evolved over time. Eurocentric botanical sources first used the common name Joe-Pye Weed in 1818. Ten years later, they added that the plant was named after an Indigenous man who used it to treat typhus. 

According to an Anishinaabe ethnobotanist, “Joe Pye” is the anglicized spelling of Zhopai, an Abenaki medicine man who treated typhus with Pkuwiimakw. 

More recently, researchers believe “Joe Pye” was what white settlers called Joseph Shauquethqueat, a Mohican. Shauquethqueat was a sachem and selectman, and likely well-known by neighboring colonists. It’s believed that white colonists saw Shauquethqueat interacting with Pkuwiimakw and named the plant after him. 

Tribal communities recognize different Pkuwiimakw species as medicine. The Cherokee, Chippewa, Menominee, and Potawatomi have used Joe-Pye Weed roots during and after pregnancy or to treat miscarriages. The Potawatomi have also applied a poultice of fresh leaves to soothe burns. And the Navajo have used Joe-Pye Weed as an antidote for arrow wounds and poison. 

Joe-Pye Weed varieties grow to an average of 6 feet tall, so you can’t miss them. Their long stems and beautiful pink flowers also provide homes and food for wildlife. When you spot Pkuwiimakw towering in the landscape, make sure you share their story! 

*Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a doctor before using this plant for a medical purpose.*

Sources: Iwígara: American Indian Ethnobotanical Traditions and Science by Enrique Salmón, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Highlands Biological Station,  Virginia Working Landscapes, The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians, Native American Ethnobotany Database, The Great Lakes Botanist