The Cultural History of Plants

Food, clothing, shelter, healing, decoration---through the cultivation of plants, himankind has thrived and civilizations have flourished for thousands of years. Now, this unique new reference work tells the story, plant by plant, of the ongoing connection between human culture and the plant kingdom. The Cultural History of Plantsprovides details on over 800 plant species in 21 thematic chapters. Coverage emcompasses plants cultivated for virtually every purpose, from the manufacture of textiles, perfume, and drugs, to those used for food and ornament. After an opening section on the earliets use and cultivation of plants, the book's thematic chapters cover the world's economically and culturally important plants. Written by some of the world's leading ethnobotanists, these chapters begin with a useful one-page overview of its subject followed by concise A-Z entries, and conclude with a generous bibliography pointing out sources for further research. In addition to listing thecommon names for each plant, each entry also provides the Latin name and names used in Britain and the United States. Concluding chapters give up-to-date information on industrial agriculture, invasive plants, conservation of wild plant biodiversity and endangered species, and conservation of crop genetic resources. This unique reference is a valuable aid for ethnobotanists and horticultural enthusiasts, archaeologists and social historians, and anyone concerned with the relationship between people and plants.

Peter Barnes: Freelance horticultural botanist and writer, UK Hans T. Beck: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA Paul Bremner: Centre for Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK Charles R. Clement: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia-INPA, Manaus, AM, Brazil Ivan Crowe: Independent Scholar, UK David R. Given: Botanical Services Curator, Christchurch City Council, New Zealand Daphne Hakuno: New York Botanic Gardens, New York, USA David R. Harris: Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK Michael Heinrich: Centre for Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK Vernon Heywood: Professor Emeritus, School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, UK Andrew Jacobson: Former Curator/Archivist, and Director of Collections, New Jersey Museum of Agriculture, USA Archivist, AIG: American International Group, Inc., New York, NY, USA Nigel Maxted: School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Sue Minter: Horticultural Director, Eden Project, Cornwall, UK Mark Nesbitt: Centre for Economic Botany, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK Georgina Pearman: Researcher, Eden Project, Cornwall, UK Barbara Pickersgill: School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading, UK Andrea Pieroni: School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, UK and Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands Ghillean Prance: Former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK, and Scientific Director of the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK Jane Renfrew: Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, UK George A.F. Roberts: Emeritus Professor of Textile Science, Nottingham Trent University, UK Richard Rudgley: Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, UK Tony Russell: Writer, Broadcaster and former Head Forester of Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, UK Helen Sanderson: Centre for Economic Botany, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK Frances A. Wood: Nottingham Trent School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University, UK