ethno·botany

the scientific study of people·plants relationships

Yet another piece of history connected to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, is the inspiration for the term ‘ethnobotany’. Moved by a collection of botanical objects seen at the fair, John W. Harshberger (1869-1929) an archeologist and botanist, coined the term in 1895 in an article proposing the field. Soon after the first doctoral theses were published—the first written in 1898 by Albert Ernest Jenks (1869-1953) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Today, the field is rooted in perspectives and methods from the humanities, social, and natural sciences offering a unique strength and also inherent challenges. Nevertheless, “ethnobotany constitutes an exceedingly broad, diverse, multidimensional, and dynamic domain. This is partly due to, on the one hand, the unparalleled importance of plants in human affairs and, on the other, to the multiple interactions between diverse and changing human societies and an astounding diversity of plant species: about 400,000 worldwide” (Alexiades, 2018, p.2).

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, ethnobotany has evolved with significant milestones both intellectually and socially. Led by these advancements I feel the discipline has a lot to offer a world where biological and cultural diversity is increasingly in question and often at risk.

As long as there is a need for original, careful, systematic, collaborative documentation of peoples’ dynamic interactions with the plant world, for bridging social and ecological systems, for maintaining and enhancing biocultural diversity, and for reconnecting health and wellbeing with cultural and environmental integrity, ethnobotany will be a field of relevance and importance in the world (Nolan and Turner, 2011, p.144).

Harshberger, Jenks, Alexiades, Nolan, Turner, and others are linked and listed below with an aim to support the discussion of two questions,

“Where did we come from?”, and “Where do we go from here?”.

Get in Touch | Societies & Journals:

Societies

International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) | An Alliance for Biocultural Diversity

Established in 1988, the group and its members “are concerned by the loss of traditional, local, and indigenous knowledge, and the effects of that loss on biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity. We envision a harmonious existence between humankind and the natural world for the benefit of future generations, and work toward this vision by promoting dialogue on resources, knowledge, ethics, and research methods across regions, cultures, and worldviews.”

Society for Ethnobotany (formerly Economic Botany) (SEB)

Established in 1959, their mission “is to foster and encourage scientific research, education, and related activities on the past, present, and future uses of plants, and the relationship between plants and people, and to make the results of such research available to the scientific community and the general public through meetings and publications.”

Their publications include:

Founded in 1947, their peer-reviewed quarterly publication is called Economic Botany.

Plants & People, is their biannual newsletter published by and for the members of the Society For Ethnobotany.

SEB Student Blog, is a great platform for current and prospective students to get involved and stay current.

Society of Ethnobiology (SoE)

Established in 1981, they are “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. Our interests encompass ethnobotany, ethnozoology, linguistics, paleoethnobotany, zooarchaeology, ethnoecology, and other related areas in anthropology and biology.”

Their publications include:

Founded in 1981, the Journal of Ethnobiology, which is peer-reviewed offers “high-caliber papers presenting new approaches and data, and those that significantly advance theory in ethnobiology.”

Contributions in Ethnobiology, which is a “peer-reviewed digital monograph series presenting original book-length research in any area of ethnobiology. These interdisciplinary monographs present data-rich, state-of-the-art studies including non-traditional data formats.”

Ethnobiology Letters, which “is an open-access, fully online, peer-reviewed journal for publication of short communications and is freely available on-line through the Society website. Letters welcome submissions of research communications, perspectives, book reviews, and notes on data, methods, and taxonomies.”

Additional Social Media Groups for society members, non-members & the public

Public Facebook Group called, Society for Ethnobotany/Society for Ethnobiology Student Group, for current, past, and prospective students wanting to stay in touch with SEB & SoE

Public Facebook Group called, Ethnobotany - plants and people

Peer-Reviewed Journals

Ethnobotany in Action

Once one grasps the ethnobotanical approach, it can be seen utilized for a variety of initiatives around the world. In general, I am delighted to see a growing number of them aiding in public awareness. The internet makes it easier than ever to get involved virtually, therefore, below is a list of just a few examples with links to learn more and get involved.

As it probably can be determined, ethnobotanists can be seen doing a variety of work around the world. Here are a few of my peers doing just this!

  • Meghan Henshaw, United States, is an ethnobotanist, herbalist, and botanical writer & editor. She runs a business called, Ocotillo Herbals, offering her services and herbal products.

  • Franziska Wittenstein, United Kingdom, (American!), has a blog called, The Ethnobotanical Enthusiast, works at the Royal Horticulture Society, and shares her botanical knowledge within her network, such as her recent video on cyanotypes for the British Pteridological Society.

  • Kim Walker, United Kingdom, exercises her skills on her podcast ‘In Pursuit of Plants’, in a myriad of educational activities at Handmade Apothecary, as well as other activities.

Interested in Ethnobotany?

One thing I love about ethnobotany is that it draws in a range of passionate people. However, there are often two questions people get stuck on a) how do I get in the field?, and b) what does one do with a degree or training in ethnobotany?

I wrote this webpage to help answer these two questions—the one I wish I had over a decade ago.

To anyone seeking higher education in ethnobotany, or any discipline requiring financial, time, and personal commitment I’d encourage some honest self-reflection and ask oneself the following questions: What do you want to get out the degree, personally and professionally? Or thinking about it another way, which table do you want to be at when you are finished? Which doors do you want open to you? Which networks do you want to be tapped into? Which skill set do you want to obtain? No one else will know these answers but you! Having answers to these questions, and more before you start will put you on the right path for you.

Another great place to start while you answer the above is to NETWORK (with professional societies for example), and ask engaged informed questions.

Educational Opportunities

Select Recommended Reading

Where did we come from?

  • Alexiades, M. A. (2018) Ethnobotany, In: The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology, ed. Hilary Callan. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

  • Clement, D. (1998) The Historical Foundations of Ethnobiology, Journal of Ethnobiology. 18(2):161-187.

  • Ellen, R. (2006) ‘Introduction: Importance of Ethnobiology’, Royal Anthropological Institute, pp. S1–S22.

  • Ellen, R. (2018) The Deep History of Humans and Plants: Ethnobotany in Historical Perspective, The Ethnobotanical Assembly Issue 1 (Full Text)

  • Ethnobiology, E. N. Anderson, Deborah Pearsall, Eugene Hunn & Nancy Turner (Editors) (select chapters)

  • Ethnobiology: Evolution of a Discipline, Richard Evans Schultes & Siri von Reis (Editors)

  • Ethnobiology at the Millennium Past Promise and Future Prospects, Richard I. Ford (Editor)

  • Harshberger, J.W. (1896) The Purposes of Ethnobotany. Botanical Gazette, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 146-154. (PDF)

  • Hunn, E. (2007) Ethnobiology in Four Phases, Journal of Ethnobiology, 27(1), pp. 1–10.

  • Jenks, A. E. (1898) The Wild Rice Gatherers of the Upper Lakes: A study in American primitive economics. Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, Vol. 19, Part 2:1013-1137. (PDF)

  • Nolan, J.M. & Turner, N.J. (2011). Ethnobotany: The Study of People–Plant Relationships. In: E. N. Anderson, Deborah Pearsall, Eugene Hunn & Nancy Turner eds., Ethnobotany. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 133-147.

  • Open Science Network | Ethnobiology Defined, list of discipline’s codes of ethics, as well as international codes, declarations, and statements

Where do we go from here?

Biocultural Diversity & Its Conservation

Manuals, Readers, Visuals & Textbooks

  • All volumes in the “People and Plants Conservation (PPC) Manual Series”, organized jointly by WWF, UNESCO and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, published by Earthscan Publications.

  • Berghahn Book Series | Environmental Anthropology and Ethnobiology

  • Curating Biocultural Collections: A Handbook, Jan Salick, Katie Konchar, & Mark Nesbitt (Editors) *****(PDF)*****

  • Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual, Gary J. Martin, volume in (PPC Manual Series)

  • Ethnobotany: Principles and Applications, C. M. Cotton

  • Ethnobiology and the Science of Humankind, Roy Ellen (Editor)

  • Ethnobotany: A Reader, Paul E. Minnis

  • Ethnobiology, E. N. Anderson, Deborah Pearsall, Eugene Hunn, & Nancy Turner (Editors)

  • Material Approaches to Polynesian Barkcloth: Cloth, Collections, Communities, Frances Lennard & Andy Mills (Editors) | 2020, (PDF)

  • Plants, People and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany, Michael J. Balick & Paul Alan Cox, 2nd Edition — great overview of ethnobotany for those getting into the field.

  • Selected Guidelines for Ethnobotanical Research: A Field Manual, Miguel N. Alexiades (Author, Editor), Jennie Wood Sheldon (Editor)

  • Society for Ethnobotany | Education Initiatives, many wonderful resources including a free video series

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