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Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between plants and people: From"ethno" - study of people and "botany" - study of plants. Ethnobotany is considered a branch of ethnobiology. Ethnobotany studies the complex relations between (uses of) plants and cultures. The focus of ethnobotany is on how plants have been or are used in human societies and includes plants used for food, medicine, for building, tools, currency, clothing, rituals, social life, and music.
History of Ethnobotany
Though the term "ethnobotany" was not coined until 1895 by the US botanist Harshberger, the history of the field begins long before that. In AD 77, the Greek surgeon Dioscorides published "De Materia Medica", which was a catalog of about 600 plants in the Mediterranean. It also included information on how the Greeks used the plants, especially for medicinal purposes. This illustrated herbal contained information on how and when each plant was gathered, whether or not it was poisonous, its actual use, and whether or not it was edible (it even provided recipes). Dioscorides stressed the economic potential of plants. For generations, scholars learned from this herbal, but did not actually venture into the field until after the Middle Ages.
In 1542 Leonhart Fuchs, a Renaissance artist, lead the way back into the field. His "De Historia Stirpium" cataloged 400 plants native to Germany and Austria.
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Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0000
A Certain Herb Called Coca - A study of coca's role in Andean society and its under-valuation by scholars.
Amazon Conservation Team - Works in partnership with indigenous people in conserving biodiversity, health, and culture in tropical America.
Meta Description: [ The Amazon Conservation Team works in partnership with indigenous people in conserving biodiversity, health and culture in tropical America. ]
Botanical.com - Articles, Message Board, Links, A Modern Herbal...
By the Prophet of the Earth - Ethnobotany of the Pima - A complete online version of the original printed book by L.S.M. Curtin.
Center for International Ethnomedicinal Education and Research - Ethnobotanical resource directory includes discussion forum, listserve, project and online course information, as well as articles, publications, schools and societies of interest.
Meta Description: [ Fireworks Splice HTML ]
Centre for Economic Botany - Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, carrying out research and providing an identification service.
Meta Description: [ Guide to research on useful and poisonous plants at the Centre for Economic Botany, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Includes a wide range of ethnobotany resources. ]
Dr. Andrew Weil - Brief biography of the doctor for whom psilocybe weilii was named. Includes comments on his research and data on the chemical components of the mushroom.
Meta Description: [ Dr. Andrew Weil/Psilocybe weilii ]
Ethno-Mycology - Promotes a book about the effects of mushrooms on culture, religion, and philosophy throughout history, as well as various events on this subject, featuring James Arthur. Includes information on psychedelic mushrooms.
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Ethnobotanical Leaflets - Web journal with information on ethnobotanical projects and organizations and links.
Ethnobotany - From Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. Includes definition of the science, projects, special events and database of plants of the southwest region of the United States.
Meta Description: [ Learn more about the department of Anthropology at Fort Lewis College. ]
Ethnobotany - Access Excellence - Defines the science, explains plant classification, offers articles on medicinal and food plants of Central and South America, and proposes classroom activities for high-school biology students.
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Ethnobotany and Cultural Resources - List compiled by the Washington State Department of Transportation describing useful plants found during highway improvements. Includes plant description, photo, habitat and use.
Ethnobotany Bibliography - A suggested introductory reading list from the Centre for Economic Botany, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.
Ethnobotany Garden - Defines the role of plants in society. Includes articles, discussion forum and related links.
Meta Description: [ We are dedicated to promoting the hobby and the science of ethnobotany in all its diverse forms. ]
Ethnobotany of the Middle Columbia River Native Americans - Traditional uses of native plants in central Washington state. Includes subsistence patterns, land use, fibers, textiles, and building materials.
Meta Description: [ Ethnobotany of the Middle Columbia River Native Amercians ]
Ethnobotany of Wild Plant Foods - Describes the science and offers resource links, bibliography and list of online databases.
Ethnobotany Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. - A list of courses available, information for students and a recommended reading list.
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Ethnobotany Program at the University of Kent at Canterbury - Describes the Master of Science courses, staff, projects and funding. Includes contact information for applicants or inquiries.
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Ethnomedicinals for Research and Development - Information on the use of herbs and other natural products in biochemistry, pharmacology, and traditional medicine.
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Etnobotanica Napoli 2001 - Details from the third international congress of ethnobotany held in Naples, Italy between 22nd and 30th September 2001, including abstracts of presentations.
Indian Herbal Research and Methods - Articles by Dr.Pankaj Oudhia detailing his research and observation of plants and their medicinal uses native to Chhattisgarh, India and surrounding regions.
International Society for Ethnopharmacology - The Journal of Ethnopharmacology, which publishes papers on medicinal and other useful indigenous plants as well as their bioactive compounds.
Ix Chel Farms and the Panti Medicinal Trail - Describes Dr. Rosita Arvigo's studies and work with tropical plants and traditional healing in Belize.
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Laboratory of Ethnobotany - Houses collections of domesticated plants from around the world as well as specimens recovered from archaeological sites. Laboratory reports available for download in Adobe .pdf format, sorted by report number or locale.
Machiguenga - An ethnobotanical study of eastern Peru.
Minnesota Ethnobotany - Describes both food and medicinal uses of plants, listed alphabetically by scientific name.
Meta Description: [ An exhibit in the MSU EMuseum that contains short descriptions of plants that can be found in Minnesota and their usage. ]
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Native American Ethnobotany Database - Search for plants used for foods, drugs, dyes, and fibers of native North American peoples. Results return list of uses, with references.
Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge - Describes healing plants used by northern Plains Indians, including photos. Also contains links to databases, books, and teacher resources.
Meta Description: [ Plants and herbs for Native American traditional teas, food, medicines; ethnobotany databases. Field ID photos with native info, vocabulary. Books and teacher resources. ]
Patalkot - The ethnobotanical work of Dr. Deepak Acharya, including full text of papers and pictures of Patalkot valley, India.
People and Plants - A partnership between the WWF and UNESCO, in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, producing a programme of capacity-building in ethnobotany applied to conservation and the sustainable use of plant resources.
Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases - Search plants by chemical, activity or ethnobotanical use. Includes list of browsable databases and rainforest information.
Plants for a Future - Resource centre for edible, medicinal, and other useful plants.
Meta Description: [ Plants For A Future is a resource centre for rare and unusual plants,
particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses.
We practice vegan-organic permaculture with emphasis on
creating an ecologically sustainable environment and
Perennial plants. ]
Psilocybe cubensis/Psilocybe subcubensis - Materia medica of the psychoactive mushroom used by natives of subtropical regions.
Meta Description: [ Psilocybe Mushrooms ]
Quanah Parker/Peyote - Brief history of Parker's role in the spread of Christian peyotism. Includes plant description and recommended reading list.
Meta Description: [ Quanah Parker and Peyote ]
Research Department, Missouri Botanical Garden - Describes current research, including ethnobotany, medicinal botany, traditional uses of plants, and bioprospecting. Also: research policy, discoveries, DNA-banking, Chatham Fellowship, staff, and links.
Sacred Earth Ethnobotany - Articles, resources, and links.
Meta Description: [ All the Earth is sacred. In classical Greek mythology, the Earth-Goddess Gaia brought forth all life on planet Earth. All the different species of fungi, plants, animals, insects and fish were her children, yet also a part of her body. Gaia breathed life into them all, and all were equally import... ]
Society for Economic Botany - Fosters scientific research, education, and related activities on the past, present, and future uses of plants, and the relationship between plants and people.
Meta Description: [ Society for Economic Botany. SEB Plants Global Botany ]
Society of Ethnobiology - A nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the relationships of plants and animals with human cultures worldwide.
Meta Description: [ The Society of Ethnobiology is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the relationships of plants and animals with human cultures worldwide, including past and present relationships between peoples and the environment. ]
The Hidden Gifts of Nature by Sigrid Leger - Description of plant usage by the San people in West Bushmanland (Namibia) for food, medicine, tools, and decoration.
Meta Description: [ The Hidden Gifts of Nature by Sigrid Leger. A Descrition of Today's Use of Plants in West Bushmanland, Namibia ]
Tico Ethnobotanical Dictionary - Alphabetical listing by scientific name. Includes brief descriptions of usage and identifies cultures in which each plant is of interest.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Prior Art Database - An index and search engine of existing Internet-based, public domain documentation concerning indigenous knowledge and plant species uses.
Tropical Plant Database - Searchable list of plants from the Amazon rainforest, by common or botanical name, action, ailment, properties or ethnic uses.
Meta Description: [ Raintree's Tropical Online Database features indepth information and research on over 100 rainforest medicinal plants ]
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