Cillqaq
(Epilobium angustifolium L.)
Plant
This tall, late blooming herb grows in Kodiak’s meadows. It has long, narrow, pointed leaves and a cluster of bright pink flowers on its upper stem. After blooming, fireweed forms pods that release seeds attached to fluffy, white strands.
Food: People eat fireweed leaves and shoots as vegetables. Dried fireweed leaves are a substitute for black tea.
Medicine: People make a cleansing tea made from fresh fireweed leaves.
Material: Fireweed stems were once used to thatch the roofs of sod houses, and as steam bath switches.
