The scientific study of how different cultures use plants for food, medicine, clothing, shelter, and other cultural purposes.
From ethno- (Greek 'ethnos') and botany (Greek 'botanē' meaning plant). Coined in the early 20th century, it became a formal discipline when anthropologists realized indigenous plant knowledge was being lost.
Ethnobotany has led to major pharmaceutical discoveries—about 25% of modern drugs are derived from plants that indigenous peoples already knew about!
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