Wild Harvest in the Heartland: Ethnobotany in Missouri's Little Dixie (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780761836537)

This work is a detailed study of people and plants in Little Dixie, a seven-county region of central Missouri. Based on three summers of field research, Professor Nolan combines ethnoscience with folklore to document what and why people know about wild plants in this little-known section of the American Midwest. The book is organized around the cognitive and behavioral differences between local experts and 'novices' who gather wild plant foods and medicines regularly throughout the seasons in Little Dixie. Ethnobotanical knowledge is described as an ongoing interaction between ecology and cognition, under constant modification by shifting cultural beliefs about edibility, efficacy, and sensory appeal. As consumable resources and symbols of belonging, wild plants are detailed with ethnographic context and vivid pen-and-ink sketches. Wild Harvest in the Heartland will appeal to a broad audience of anthropologists, ethnobotanists, folklorists, and ecologists, and will provide a welcome resource for naturalists, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Author: Justin M. Nolan
ISBN-10: 0761836535
ISBN-13: 9780761836537
Publisher: University Press of America
Language: English
Published: 05/30/2007
Pages: 100
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.37lbs
Size: 8.83h x 6.39w x 0.32d

Review Citation(s):
Scitech Book News 03/01/2008 pg. 7