Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-205).

Plants used by western American Indians. Identifying an Indian basket ; About tradition ; Teaching the art form ; "Creativity" ; Evolution of plant knowledge ; Plant usage as we know it today -- Plants considered as basketry material -- Materials used by specific tribes. Tribes of California (32 tribes) ; Tribes of the Southwestern USA (11 tribes) ; Tribes of the Pacific Northwest (14 tribes) -- Specific basketry plants. Alder bark (Alnus spp.) ; Bear grass (Nolina microcarpa) ; Bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax) ; Bracken fern root (Pteridium spp.) ; Bulrush root (Scirpus spp.) a.k.a. Tule ; Cattail (Typha latifolia) ; Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) ; Chaparral (Ceanothus cuneatus) ; Choke cherry (Prunus spp.) ; Conifer root (var. spp.) ; Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) ; Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigins) ; Devils claw (Martynia proboscidea) ; Dogwood (Cornus spp.) Creek dogwood ; Grape vine (Vitis californica) ; Grape roots (Vitis californica) ; Hazel (Corylus rostrata) ; Juncus (Juncus textilis) ; Maidenhair fern (Adiatum pedatum) ; Maple (Acer macrophylum) ; Milk weed (Asclepia spp.) ; Nettle (Urtica spp.) fibers only ; Palm leaf (Washingtonia filifera) ; Rabbit bush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) ; Red bud (Ceris accidentalis) ; Sedge root( Carex spp.) ; Spruce root (Picea sitchensis) ; Sumac (Rhus trilobata) ; Tule (Scirpus spp.) ; Willow shoots (Salix spp.) ; Sunburned willow (Salix spp.) ; Willow root (Salix spp.) ; Sand bar willow (Salix spp.) ; Woodwardia fern (Woodwardia spp.) ; Yucca fiber (Yucca whipplei) ; Yucca leaf (Yucca elata) ; Yucca root (Yucca bacata et al.) -- Identification clues. Splotches in a Yuki basket ; Red bud in a Yuki basket -- Graphic summary. Fold-out, plant check list, California ; Fold-out, plant check list W. US/Canada