ethnobotany

American  

[eth-noh-bot-n-ee] / ˌɛθ noʊˈbɒt n i /

noun

1. the plant lore and agricultural customs of a people.

2. Anthropology. the systematic study of such lore and customs.

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ethnobotany British  

/ ˌɛθnəʊˈbɒtənɪ /

noun

1. the branch of botany concerned with the use of plants in folklore, religion, etc

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Other Word Forms

• ethnobotanic adjective
• ethnobotanical adjective
• ethnobotanist noun

Etymology

Origin of ethnobotany

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; ethno- + botany

Example Sentences

As the focus of ethnobotany and archaeobotany, plants yield invaluable insights into the past.

From Scientific American • Nov. 13, 2018

Answering that question depends on how you define manna, which could be its own concentration in biblical studies and ethnobotany.

From Washington Post • Aug. 3, 2018

“Hoeven and Cramer's announcement is irresponsible and inaccurate,” said Linda Black Elk, a Standing Rock camp medic and professor of ethnobotany at Sitting Bull College on the reservation.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2017

Quave’s personal discovery of ethnobotany culminated in two self-organized trips to a research station in Peru.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2016

If plants and their interactions with humans interest you, you may want to look into the field of ethnobotany.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015