OT ch.24 ethnobotany

The mint family (lamiaceae)

3000 species Unique combinations of angular stems that are square in cross section, opposite leaves, and bilaterally symmetrical flowers Plants often aromatic Ovary superior and four-parted, developing into four nutlets Leaves are opposite at right angles to each other, stems are square Plants produce mint oils Used medicinally and as antiseptic in different parts of the world Menthol used in toothpaste, candies, gum, liqueurs, and cigarettes Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram, basil, lavender, catnip, peppermint, spearmint

the night shade family (solanaceae)

3000 species concentrated in tropics of central and south america Flowers have fused petals with stamens fused to corolla Superior ovary develops into berry or capsule Many of this family are poisonous Tomato, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tobacco, petunia Many nightshades poisonous and some have drug uses Belladonna drug complex used in the past Atropine - shock treatment, pain relief Scopolamine - tranquilizer Capsicum from red pepper - gastric stimulant Jimson weed - asthma tobacco

The pumpkin family (cucurbitaceae)

700 species of prostrate or climbing herbaceous vines Flowers unisexual with fused petals Female flowers with inferior ovary of three carpels Includes many important edible plants Many have been cultivated for so long they are unknown in a wild state Pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, gourds (loofas come from vascular tissue of a gourd)

The laurel family (lauraceae)

About 1000 species of tropical evergreen shrubs and trees No petals, but sepals sometimes petal like Stamens in three or four whorls, anthers open by flaps that lift up Cinnamon: pulverized bark of small tree Cassia: camphor - cold remedies, insecticides Sassafras trees - native to eastern US Sweet bay - flavoring in meat dishes Avocado Bay leaves

The carrot family (apiaceae)

Approximately 2000 members widely distributed in northern hemisphere Savory aromatic herbs, with dissected leaves, and petiole bases that form sheaths are stem Flowers small numerous and arranged in umbels Inferior ovary and two lobed stigma Dill, celery, carrot, parsley, caraway, coriander, fennel, anise, parsnip Some members poisonous (Water hemlock - socrates believed to have died from ingestion)

The lily family (liliaceae)

Approximately 4550 members that occur in almost any area supporting vegetation Flowers often lage and their parts in multiples in three, with sepals and petals often resembling each other Lilies, daffodils, asparagus, sarsaparilla, aloe, onions, garlic, saffron Meadow saffron - source of colchicine used to treat rheumatism Bowstring hemps (sansevierias) house plants; long fibers for string, robe, bowstrings Cooking saffron (three stigmas from flower, then gets dried in sun)

chinese region: temperate and southern china

Bamboo, peach, walnut, ginger, gourds, camphor, tea, soybean, buckwheat, horseradish, cucumber

Near-eastern region: mediterranean, northern europe

Barley, wheat, peas, lentils, asparagus, beets, carrots, turnips, olives, cherries, plums, apricots, apples, onions, garlic, broccoli, lettuce, flax, pistachios

The grass family (poaceae) - monocot

Flowers wind - pollinated and highly specialized Calyx and corolla are tiny scales Flowers protected in boat shaped bracts Stigmas exposed and feathery Leaf bases sheath stems Contains nearly all cereals Wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, corn Sugar cane - six meters tall (Juice squeezed from cane, then centrifuged, Solid crystallized into table sugar, Dark remnant = molasses) Baskets, fibers, thatching for huts Citronella oil

South and central america

Garden beans, corn, peanut, white potato, lime beans, cashew, pineapple, avocado, red pepper, tomato, cotton, cocaine, cacao, sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, rubber, vanilla, cassava

The poppy family (papveraceae)

Herbs of temperate and subtropical regions Numerous stamens, but single pistil/gynoecium Milky or colored sap All species produce alkaloidal drugs Opium poppies Opium: white fluid from capsules Morphine and codeine Heroin Papaverine and noscapine Poppy seeds

The spurge family (euphorbiaceae)

In tropical and temperate regions Several economically important plants Cassava - staple food in tropical regions Para rubber tree - crude rubber from latex of inner bark Stamens and pistils produced in separate flowers Flowers often inconspicuous and lack of corolla (poinsettias) Inflorescence = cyathium

The cactus family (cactaceae)

More than 1500 species native only to americas in dry, subtropical regions Leaves reduced in size, often to spines Fleshy stems, Flowers showy Numerous stamens, petals, and sepals Inferior ovary develops into berry Most have edible fruit (Prickly pear fruits)

The rose family (rosaceae)

More than 3000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs Flowers have basal parts fused into cup, with petals, sepals, and numerous stamens attached to cup's rim Family family subdivided into subfamilies on basis of flower structure and fruits Stone fruits: cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, almonds Pome fruits: apples, pears Aggregate fruits: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries Garden ornamentals - roses Fragrances Fruits of roses = hips - vitamin C

1916

N.I. Vavilov - Plants were domesticated in geographic regions with high genetic diversity of wild relatives. - Majority of domesticated plants originated from mountain regions

The buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)

Nearly all 1500 species are herbaceous Petals vary in number Numerous stamens Several to many pistils with superior ovaries Concentration in north temperate and arctic regions Most at least slightly poisonous Monkshood or wolfsbane Yields aconite: drug once used to treat rheumatism and neuralgia. Very poisonous Wolf hunters used juice from roots to poison wolves (columbine) Five spurred petals

The mustard family (brassicaceae)

Nearly all 2500 species in temperate and cooler regions of northern hemisphere Four flower petals arranged in a cross (hence the old name: the crucifers) Six stamens: 2 shorts, 4 long Fruits = siliques or silicles All produce pungent watery juice Many cultivated edible plants: Cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, radish, turnip, cabbage, horseradish, watercress, rutabaga Mustard: ground seeds of two species of brassica

The sunflower family (asteraceae)

Second largest flowering plant family with about 20,000 species Dandelions, lettuce, endive, chicory, artichoke, dahlia, chrysanthemum, marigold, sunflower, thistle Tarragon - spice in meat and pickle Make many flowers with one seed Individual flowers = florets (florets arranged in compact inflorescence that resembles a single flower)

south asia and pacific islands

Sugar cane, eggplant, mango, banana, citrus, safflower, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, tumeric, black pepper, coconut ,taro, rice, sesame, onion

north america

Sunflower, cranberry, blueberry, tobacco, corn

the legume family (fabaceae)

Third largest of flowering plants families with 13000 species Cosmopolitan Flowers radial to bilateral Stamens fused into tube around ovary Fruit is a legume, many important crop in plants (Peas, Beans, Soybeans, Peanuts, Alfalfa, Sweet clover, Licorice, Carob)

The orchid family (orchidaceae)

Very large family with over 35000 species, especially abundant in tropics Widely distributed with diverse habitats Flowers exceptionally varied in size and form Many epiphytic on bark of trees Other aquatic or terrestrial and saprophytic Specific adaptations between orchid flowers and pollinators are extraordinary and sometimes bizarre Vanilla from vanilla orchid Three sepals and petals, with one of petals (lip petals) differing from other two Stamens and pistil united in single structure = column Anthers contain sacs of pollen called pollinia Minute seeds produced in prodigious numbers Each seed consists of only a few cells Seed must become associated with specific mycorrhizal fungus to germinate

African continent: mostly ethiopia and west africa

Yams, sorghum, okra, sweet melons, coffee, some cotton

1880s

alphonse de candolle, origin of cultivated plants Cultivated plants originated in areas where wild relatives grow

Dichotomous (forking) keys

are written by experts to help others identify organisms using critical features of the organisms, the user answers a series of questions (usually presented in pairs) and follow where the key sends them

Inflorescence in spurge family

cyathium Female flower elevated on stalk called gynophore and surrounded by several male flowers that each consist of little more than an anther Male and female flowers inserted on a cup composed of fused bracts, usually with glands on rim Sometimes surrounded by colored bracts

1950s

jack harlan and students - Associated crop origins with regions