Story Slides
Story Slides
Use a microscope to explore plant materials and discover the stories they tell.
Dogbane Story Slide
Making Cordage from the Dogbane Plant
Follow along with the steps in the traditional Ohlone practice of making cordage, or twine rope, from the dogbane plant.
Pressed Dogbane Plant
Dogbane grows in oak woodland meadows, near creeks. It flowers in the spring.
Stems
In fall and winter, we gather the plant’s long stalks.
Bits of Bark
We start the process by removing its outer bark.
Stalks, Unsplit and Split
We split open the stalks.
Bark Strips
We strip off the fibrous inner bark—this becomes the cordage. Next, we soak the strips of bark in water.
Cordage
To make cordage, we hold one end, and roll the fibers against a thigh until they twist together.
Finished Necklace
We add clam shells or other beads to make a necklace.
Yerba Buena Story Slide
When I’m near you, oh when I’m near you, I think of the old ways, of my family, of my future. Our family has always loved you. You are alive, like us, strong and here, where you’ve always been. Your scent tells of yesterday, your scent tells of today, you
Rose Story Slide
Rose is a strong doctor—she takes care of us.
Plant Personalities Story Slide
More to Explore
Funded by a generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, with additional support from the Troy and Leslie Daniels Fund for Life Sciences.