OSHER 115 - Ethnobotany-The Study of How People Use Plants

Ethnobotany is a recently developed field of study that combines anthropology and botany. It examines the way cultures use plants for food, medicine, ritual and utilitarian purposes. This class will follow the history of ethnobotany to the present day by sharing the fascinating stories and adventures of the intrepid scientists and explorers who venture to some of the wildest places on earth to learn about plants and their uses from the indigenous people. Two field trips, one to the Garret Herbarium and one to see the collections at the Utah Museum of Natural History, will broaden the classroom experience.