Florida Ethnobotany

Winner of the 2005 Klinger Book Award Presented by The Society for Economic Botany.

Daniel F Austin Research Associate, Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, FL

List Price: $149.95
Our Price: $139.95

Cat. #: 2332 ISBN: 0849323320 Publication Date: 11/29/2004 Number of Pages: 952

Florida Ethnobotany provides a cross-cultural examination of how the state's native plants have been used by its various peoples. This compilation includes common names of plants in their historical sequence, weaving together what was formerly esoteric information about each species into a full reference.

The author accomplishes the monumental task of translating the common names of species, which offers insight into plant usage and a glimpse into the culture of each ethnic group or tribe. These common botanical names often demonstrate how individuals fit into their societies and how these societies functioned. Although there have been previous studies of plants used by the inhabitants of Florida, this is the first comprehensive synthesis of this flora-rich region that was so pivotal in the history of New World exploration.

• Documents the names and uses of the native plants of Florida by the different peoples of the region
• Records nearly 900 species, discussing all uses ranging from the utilitarian to the religious
• Includes illustrations for more than 500 species;
• many drawings created by renowned artists Penny Honychurch and Priscilla Fawcett
• Combines locally gathered information with a comprehensive study of early literature about each species
• Contains an sixteen-page full color insert
• Provides an exhaustive bibliography to serve as a point of departure for further research