by Mary Free, Extension Master Gardener
What is the scientific study of the traditional knowledge and customs of different human societies concerning plants and their medical, religious, economic, and other use?
Gardeners who use MGNV’s Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic fact sheets will sometimes find mention of the traditional uses of a plant in the description of its attributes. These may refer to parts of the plant that were used for traditional crafts and trades, or that are edible, or that an insect, such as a honey bee, converts to a food such as honey. These may also refer to medical uses, such as the brewing of teas, tisanes, or infusions or making poultices from the leaves, roots, or fruits of a plant. Sometimes these traditional uses transition to modern practices such that some plants, like Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), are exploited, resulting in the decimation of their natural populations. Click here to learn more.
