All About Ethnobotany!

	Ethnobotany!
Ethnobotany is simply defined as the study of how people use plants. You may not realize it, but you use plants on an everyday basis whether for medicinal purposes, like Aloe for burns, or for other uses like paper. Importance of Ethnobotany: nSeeks knowledge of plants, environment and manipulation history and focuses on reestablishing species and communities in historic ranges n nSeeks to integrate traditional knowledge with science
Ethnobotany Class Project			Black-eyed Susan
Designed by students to grow and showcase plants used by Native Americans and other early peoples Planted flora includes: Blue Cohosh: Wild Leak: Indian Tobacco: Wild Mint: Squaw Weed: Columbine: New England Aster: Butterfly Weed: Sweet Everlasting: White Snake root Downy Rattlesnake Plantain			Butterfly Weed:
Ethnobotany of Western Maryland Ongoing Research
Currently Dr. Linda Lyon, in conjunction with FSU students Jennifer Saville, Rebecca Stewart, and Kerry Wixted, are conducting research in Western Maryland. Aspects of the project focus on interviewing and surveying local people in order to investigate early people's knowledge, use and reliance on medicinal plants in Western Maryland as well as determining how knowledge on the use has been passed down and has changed throughout time. This project will help to increase the local historical knowledge base and will give insight to important medicinal plants in our region.			Spotted Jewelweed: This plant is useful for relieving burns, poison ivy, and insect bites. It can also be poulticed and be used for sprains.
Ethnobotany Initiative @ Frostburg State University!
Dr. Linda Lyon is also working on offering Ethnobotany as a concentration for a Biology degree. Required coursework would include Herbology, Folklore of the Alleghenies, and Plant Taxonomy classes. This past Fall, Dr. Lyon successfully taught an Ethnobotany seminar to students from a variety of backgrounds from psychology to biology. Their final project included designing an Ethnobotany newspaper: The Frostburg Naturalist.


Columbine	Downy Rattlesnake Plantain	Blue Cohosh