Ilex cassine, the aboriginal North American tea /

Chapter 2: LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

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About This Book

The bulletin examines a coastal holly species whose leaves and twigs were traditionally brewed by southeastern Indigenous peoples into a stimulant decoction used in ritual and social contexts. It summarizes botanical characteristics and geographic range, surveys historical and ethnographic accounts of preparation, ceremonial use, and cultural significance, and discusses chemical analyses indicating a caffeine-like alkaloid. Comparative notes relate this American beverage to tea and maté, and the author compiles prior references, distributional records, and botanical taxonomy while suggesting the plant's possible economic value and encouraging further investigation into related species and their constituents.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

September, 1891.

Sir: I have the honor of presenting for publication the accompanying paper on the history, distribution, and uses of Ilex cassine, commonly called youpon, a shrub belonging to the southern and southeastern parts of the United States. Dr. E. M. Hale, the author, has made a thorough examination of the scattered information which is to be found on the subject.

In my opinion it is well to publish this paper, in order to perpetuate in a concise form the recorded facts concerning the economic and ceremonial uses of this plant among the North American Indians. The leaves are now used to a limited extent among the Southern people, and possibly their use may be somewhat extended.

It seems that the detection of caffeine in the leaves of this Ilex rests upon the chemical analysis of Professor Venable, of the University of North Carolina. I am not aware that any analysis has been made by others.

Geo. Vasey,
Botanist.

Hon. J. M. Rusk,

Secretary of Agriculture.