Museum Minute: Tall Fringed Bluebell

The Plains Indian Museum has a collection of pressed plants that were used for medicinal uses.

The book includes the tall fringed blue bell. Hunter Old Elk, the Plains Indian Museum curatorial assistant, said it’s a mountain flower. 

“It produces a purple bluish flower and the leaves are used and were consumed by nursing mothers to increase milk,” said Old Elk. 

It was also used to help relieve itching during the smallpox and measle outbreaks. 

“The roots were ground up and put on open, itching sores and created as a paste,” said Old Elk. 

Old Elk said it’s interesting to think about plants for medicinal use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Museum Minute was a series co-produced with Wyoming Public Media (WPM).