Author Description

More than a field guide or gardening handbook, this volume is a fascinating compendium of the popular lore, social history and practical uses of North American wildflowers from pre-colonial times to the 20th century. The only resource of its kind, North American Wildflowers explains, for instance, what healing powers are attributed to the poppy in medical folklore, how the Indians used hemp and where a cornflower is known as a "bachelor's button."<br>Generously illustrated with over 350 charming 19th- and early 20th- century engravings, and covering more than 700 plant species, this book contains entries that include both common and botanical names along with their etymologies and many regional variants. Social histories are drawn from classical, British and early American sources, including herbal and botanical guides, and feature the uses, medicinal properties and cultural importance of each plant, including superstitions, traditions and informative anecdotes.<br>The History and Folklore of North American Wildflowers will be both a popular resource and an important contribution to the growing field of ethnobotany. It is sure to be welcomed by a wide audience, including nature lovers, serious botanists, students of American history and culture, and, of course, gardeners.