Florida ethnobotany : Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, Florida Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona : with more than 500 species illustrated by Penelope N. Honychurch [and others

A Winner of the 2005 Klinger Book Award Presented by The Society for Economic Botany. 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. "Florida Ethnobotany documents common names and uses of the native plants of Florida by the different peoples of the region; records nearly 900 species, discussing uses ranging from the utilitarian to the religious; features illustrations for more than 500 species, including 400 detailed line drawings by renowned artists and a 16-page, full-color insert; combines locally gathered information with a comprehensive study of early literature about each species; and provides an extensive bibliography to serve as a point of departure for further research."--Jacket Book cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Disclaimer/Warning/Caveat......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 15 The Author......Page 23 Contents......Page 25 People and Plants......Page 27 The Ethnobotany......Page 101 References......Page 1264 Index......Page 1358 By Daniel F. Austin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 741-805) And Index. Plant Names Are In A Variety Of Languages. Florida was the first mainland region north of Mexico to be explored and settled by Europeans.