The English name for Four Wing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) comes from its seed which has four paper-like wings that project from the seed at right angles. Its Diné name is Díwózhiiłbéíí. Four-winged saltbush loses its leaves in drought. It has grayish-white to pale-green leaves. Mature plants range from 1 to 8 feet in height, depending on ecotype, soil, and climate, but it is most common on bottomland sites. Bosque Redondo was settled in a floodplain that was considered a bottomland site, creating perfect conditions for this plant to thrive. Its root system can reach depths of 20 feet when soil type allows. Saltbush’s name refers to the alkaline soil habitat that this plant needs to grow in. And, of course, the Bosque Redondo was known for having this specific type of alkaline (salty) soil. Sadly, this saltiness caused much suffering from diarrhea and dysentery for humans and animals alike during this time of internment.
However, the branches were used as fuel for cooking. And when the seeds were dried, they were ground coarsely and made into a mush and cooked like our present-day oatmeal. The Diné also ground the seeds, mixed them with water, and perhaps some honey, and made a drink called pinole. Finely ground seeds were also made into flour. Again, a yellow dye, for wool weavings, was made by boiling the leaves. These same leaves were eaten either raw or cooked. Male blossoms were crushed and mixed with water to create a soap for washing and treating ant bites.
