ClimateAugust 17, 2026

ethnobotany

ETH-no-bot-uh-nee

Definition

The scientific study of the traditional knowledge and customs of a people concerning plants and their medical, religious, and other uses.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'ethnos' (people or nation) and 'botane' (plant or herb), the term emerged in the late 19th century to describe the study of how cultures interact with and utilize their local flora.

In the news

Gene-Sheng Tung is identified as an expert in ethnobotany, using this discipline to explore how Taiwan's Indigenous peoples traditionally relied on the coral tree as a natural calendar.

Taiwan’s Evolving Approach to Wildlife Conservation

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Taiwan Business TOPICS

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