Ethnobotany – Definition and Meaning

Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the interactions between people and plants, which also includes the impact of plants on human culture. In simple terms, the meaning of ethnobotany is how people of certain geographic regions and cultures make use of plants in their local environments. This field of botany has been around since prehistoric times. It primarily focuses on the study of native plants as well as their practical application using the customs and traditional knowledge of the local population.

Definition of Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is the science of people’s interactions with plants.

What is Ethnobotany?

Ethnobotany is derived from “Ethnology” – study of culture and “Botany” – study of plants. The first person who defined ethnobotany was John Harshberger in the year 1895 and defined it as “the study of plants used by primitive & aboriginal people.” Richard Evans Schultes is known as the “Father of Ethnobotany.” Ethnobotany is a multidisciplinary field that examines the relationships between plants and human cultures.

It includes the scientific study of how different societies use plants for various purposes, including traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and medicinal applications. It contributes to biodiversity conservation by promoting sustainable practices that protect both cultural heritage and the environment. It act as a bridge between botany, anthropology, and ecology.

Aim and Scope of Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is an interdisciplinary science, which includes aspects of both the sciences and humanities and includes studying plants. The scope of etnobotany incudes:

• As agricultural crops and wild foods.
• Suppliers of materials for constructing houses and means of transportation.
• Art
• Textiles and types of weaving.
• Pharmaceuticals and alternative methods for healing.

The study of local people’s interactions with the environment is called ethnoecology, while the study of local people’s interactions with plants is called ethnobotany. The goal of ethnobotany is to have a comprehensive understanding of indigenous plant knowledge.

Ethnobotany as a Branch of Ethnobiology

The two main broad aims of Ethnobotany are:

• To compile information regarding the use and maintenance of plants.
• To clarify the ethnobotanical text through the definition, explanation, and exploration of ethnobotanical roles and procedures.

It is an interdisciplinary field that lies between ethnology and plant science. An ethnic people’s understanding of plants is considered a “multidisciplinary science” because of its wide range of applications. Many disciplines have become more widely employed in relation to ethnic groups and their knowledge in recent years such as ethnomedicine, ethnotaxonomy, ethnotoxicology, ethnoecology, ethnogynaecology, ethnopharmacology, ethnopadiatrics, ethnoforestry, etc.

Important Disciplines in the Study of Ethnobotany.

Numerous disciplines which have gained relevance to Ethnobotany are listed below.

Discipline	Relevance to Ethnobotany
Botany	Study of plants.
Chemistry	Study of composition of substances and active chemicals in medicinal plants.
Anthropology	Study of how different cultures use plants.
Medicine	Study of medicinal uses of plants.
Agriculture	Study of human domestication and management of plants.
Horticulture	Study of management of useful plants i.e., fruits, vegetables or ornamental plants in orchards/ home gardens.
Forestry	Study of management of forests by humans.
Archaeology	Study of how ancient cultures used plants.
Economic Botany	Study of economic use of plants.
Religious Studies	Use of plants for rituals by different cultures and religions.
Ecology	Study of human interactions with plants and ecosystems.
Sociology	Study of plant uses in different societies.

Significance of Ethnobotany

The significance of Ethnobotany is manifold such as:

• The study of Ethnobotany teaches us about unknown but beneficial plants and also aids in understanding the new uses of many plants that we already know.
• It gives knowledge about the traditional uses of plants, which can be used towards the development of societies.
• Ethnobotany is crucial for tribal groups of people. The majority of daily necessities and primary healthcare for tribal people are provided by forest products. These people still rely on the forest and its resources for their basic requirements. For instance, the tribal people in Northeast India gather food medicines, oils, gums, colours, and tannins from the trees of forests.
• Many tribes engage in shifting farming, sometimes referred to as “jhum cultivation” in the area. This form of farming involves clearing a part of ground, planting crops there, and then relocating to another area of the forest to continue the process when the soil becomes unfertile after a crop or two is harvested.
• Today, most people of the world get their medications/drugs from medicinal plants. The term “medico-ethno botany” describes this. This feature further highlights the significance of ethnobotany.
• Due to the knowledge of Ethnobotany, several drugs, including quinine, cocaine, digoxin, and taxol, have been found in plants in recent decades.
• The discovery of several bioactive substances, such as hypericin, gossypol, and artemisinin, has also occurred recently as a result of our growing knowledge of the interaction between society and plants.
• Ethnobotany also promotes awareness of the relationship between cultural diversity and biodiversity as well as the interdependence of humans and plants.

Therefore, it is essential for people in our country to understand the different features of ethnobotany.

Significance of Ethnobotany in Environmental Conservation

The Significance of Ethnobotany in Environmental Conservation includes:

• Ethnobotany has an important role in understanding natural resources, which provide raw materials for agroforestry.
• Certain crops are grown for generations, meaning that they represent a unique genetic stock that has adapted to the local environment. The Moghania vestita, a tuber crop found in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, is one illustration of this.
• Various plants are part of the traditions of nature worship in India. Sacred groves are parts of a forest that are significant for environmental preservation. There are numerous sacred groves spread throughout Sikkim and Meghalaya. These forests are locally referred to as Lawkyntang in Meghalaya and Lungchuk in Sikkim.
• Ethnobotany is the study of the interactions between humans and plants in diverse communities. These interactions are significant for many tribal groups. Tribal people rely on forest products to supply them with the necessities of daily life, including the materials needed for their physical and medical needs.

Significance of Ethnobotany in the India

The Significance of Ethnobotany in the India includes:

• Since the beginning of time, plant resources have met all of humanity’s basic needs, including those for healthcare. Indigenous plant knowledge is valued globally for its inherent qualities and for its contributions to modern drug development.
• Native ethnic populations in various parts of India, particularly in the Himalayan region, use plants as traditional herbal treatments.
• In reality, ethnomedicines are the source of all conventional medical systems in India and throughout the world.
• The absence of funding for ethnobotany research, educational possibilities, and a grasp of tribal peoples’ dialects prevent India from fully appreciating the value of ethnobotany.
• Ethnobotany research assists in providing information to scientists and administrators so they can create action plans for the economic development and prosperity of tribal regions.

FAQs on Ethnobotany

1. What is the Concept of Ethnobotany?

Ethnobotany is a multidisciplinary field of study that examines the relationships between plants and people. It primarily focuses on the uses of local plants by members of a specific community or culture.

2. Who is the Father of Ethnobotany?

The pioneer of ethnobotany, or the scientific study of plants utilised by primitive societies is Richard Evans Schultes. He was an American biologist and ethnobotanist.

3. What are the Different Types of Ethnobotany?

It is challenging to classify the vast array of disciplines that ethnobotanists study. Among their varieties are ethnopharmacology, ethnoecology, ethnomedicine, ethnomycology, and archaeoethnobotany.

4. What are the Tools of Ethnobotany?

There are many tools of ethnobotany such as mycology, taxonomy, anthropology, ethnography, archaeology, comparative folklore, religious studies, medicine, chemistry, pharmacology and so on.

5. What is Ethnobotany and its Uses?

Studying the plants that prehistoric people used around the globe is known as ethnobotany. Since Schultes’ time, the field of ethnobotany has expanded beyond the acquisition of knowledge to the application of that knowledge to contemporary civilization, mainly in the form of pharmaceuticals.