Description
A small perennial plant of the lily family, the Rawwen have long green leaves which grow from it’s base. It has a brown or white bulb below the surface of the ground, from which its leaves grow. Rawwen can commonly be found in broadleaf evergreen forests and open scrublands. Also common in the open scrublands are tootikma (deer) which often feed on the young leaves of the Rawwen.
Traditional Native Uses
*Soap: Toroowi (Bulb) of the Rawwen pounded to make a detergent foam which was used as a hawwon (soap) for washing and as a shampoo to reduce dandruff. *Fish Poison: Toroowi (Bulb) of the Rawwen pounded and used as a háamuy (fish) poison to stun and catch háamuy (fish). *Brushes: Fibers covering the toroowi (bulb) of the Rawwen were bundled up into brushes **which were used to clean acorn meal from mortars and baskets. *Food: Leaves of the young, immature Rawwen were ‘ammaakne ‘áššote (eaten raw). **After overnight cooking the toroowi (bulb) is also edible. **Glue: Toroowi (Bulb) of the Rawwen was roasted to make a glue which could be used to attach arrowheads to shafts, or to glue the handle of the Rawwen brush. **Medicine: Uncooked juice of the toroowi (bulb) was used to relieve the itch from poison oak.