Name: Date: Period:

ETHNOBOTANY BASICS
Ethno + Botany = Ethnobotany
What is ethnobotany?
people + study of plants = the study of the interactions of people with plants

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary science, which includes aspects of both sciences and humanities. Ethnobotany can serve
as a gateway to many different disciplines like the ones listed. Define and analyze how the disciplines below are relevant to
the study of ethnobotany.

Discipline Definition: Relevance to Ethnobotany

1. Agriculture

2. Agroforestry

3. Anthropology

4. Archeology

5. Botany

6. Chemistry

7. Ecology

8. Economics

9. Forestry

 
10. Horticulture

11. Linguistics

12. Medicine
13. Religious
Studies
14. Sociology

15. Systematics

 
 KEY: ETHNOBOTANY BASICS
Ethno + Botany = Ethnobotany
What is ethnobotany?
people + study of plants = the study of the interactions of people with plants

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary science, which includes aspects of both sciences and humanities. Ethnobotany can serve as a
gateway to many different disciplines like the ones listed. Define and analyze how the disciplines below are relevant to the study of
ethnobotany.

Discipline Definition: (from Webster’s Dictionary) Relevance to Ethnobotany

the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, How humans have domesticated and managed
1. Agriculture producing crops, and raising livestock plants, especially in traditional agriculture systems

land management involving the growing of trees in How humans have managed the land for the
2. Agroforestry association with food crops or pastures simultaneous production of food, crops, and trees

the study of human beings and their ancestors through

time and space and in relation to physical character, How different cultures use plants
3. Anthropology
environmental and social relations, and culture

the scientific study of material remains (as fossil relics,

Paleoethnobotany – how ancient cultures used
artifacts, and monuments) of past human life and
4. Archeology plants
activities

The study of the structure and composition of

a branch of biology dealing with plant life
5. Botany plants

a science that deals with the composition, structure, and The study of the composition of substances and
6. Chemistry
properties of substances and with the transformations active chemicals in plants, especially medicinal

 
 that they undergo plants

a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship How human interactions with plants and
7. Ecology of organisms and their environments ecosystems affect plant ecology

a social science concerned chiefly with description and

analysis of the production, distribution, and Economic botany – the economic uses of plants
8. Economics
consumption of goods and services

the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating

The human management of forests and forest trees
9. Forestry forests

The management of useful plants (fruits,

the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers,
vegetables, ornamentals) in home gardens or
10. Horticulture or ornamental plants
orchards

the study of human speech including the units, nature, The terminology for plants and plant parts by
11. Linguistics structure, and modification of language people of different language groups

a substance or preparation used in treating disease How humans use plants for medicinal purposes
12. Medicine
Ritual uses of plants by different cultures and
13. Religious Studies the study of religious faith, practice, and experience
religions

the systematic study of the development, structure,

interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups How humans use plants in various societies
14. Sociology
of human beings

the classification and study of organisms with regard to Folk-taxonomy, how different people classify
15. Systematics their natural relationships plants

 
 ETHNOBOTANY BASICS
Ethno + Botany = Ethnobotany
What is ethnobotany?
people + study of plants = the study of the interactions of people with plants

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary science, which includes aspects of both sciences and humanities. Ethnobotany can serve
as a gateway to many different disciplines like the ones listed. Define and analyze how the disciplines below are relevant to
the study of ethnobotany.

Discipline Definition: Relevance to Ethnobotany

the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil,

1. Agriculture producing crops, and raising livestock

land management involving the growing of trees in

2. Agroforestry association with food crops or pastures

the study of human beings and their ancestors

through time and space and in relation to physical
3. Anthropology character, environmental and social relations, and
culture

the scientific study of material remains (as fossil

relics, artifacts, and monuments) of past human life
4. Archeology
and activities

a branch of biology dealing with plant life

5. Botany

 
 a science that deals with the composition, structure,
and properties of substances and with the
6. Chemistry
transformations that they undergo

a branch of science concerned with the

7. Ecology interrelationship of organisms and their environments

a social science concerned chiefly with description

and analysis of the production, distribution, and
8. Economics
consumption of goods and services

the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating

9. Forestry forests

the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables,

10. Horticulture flowers, or ornamental plants

the study of human speech including the units,

11. Linguistics nature, structure, and modification of language

a substance or preparation used in treating disease

12. Medicine
13. Religious the study of religious faith, practice, and experience
Studies
the systematic study of the development, structure,
interaction, and collective behavior of organized
14. Sociology
groups of human beings

the classification and study of organisms with regard

15. Systematics to their natural relationships

 
  

ETHNOBOTANY BASICS
Ethno + Botany = Ethnobotany
What is ethnobotany?
people + study of plants = the study of the interactions of people with plants

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary science, which includes aspects of both sciences and humanities. Ethnobotany can serve
as a gateway to many different disciplines like the ones listed. Define and analyze how the disciplines below are relevant to
the study of ethnobotany.

Discipline Definition: Relevance to Ethnobotany

How humans have domesticated and managed

1. Agriculture plants, especially in traditional agriculture systems

How humans have managed the land for the

2. Agroforestry simultaneous production of food, crops, and trees

How different cultures use plants

3. Anthropology
Paleoethnobotany – how ancient cultures used
4. Archeology plants

The study of the structure and composition of

5. Botany plants

The study of the composition of substances and

active chemicals in plants, especially medicinal
6. Chemistry
plants

 
 How human interactions with plants and
7. Ecology ecosystems affect plant ecology

Economic botany – the economic uses of plants

8. Economics
The human management of forests and forest trees
9. Forestry
The management of useful plants (fruits,
vegetables, ornamentals) in home gardens or
10. Horticulture
orchards

The terminology for plants and plant parts by

11. Linguistics people of different language groups

How humans use plants for medicinal purposes

12. Medicine
Ritual uses of plants by different cultures and
13. Religious
Studies religions

How humans use plants in various societies

14. Sociology
Folk-taxonomy, how different people classify
15. Systematics plants