An Ethnobotany of Darwin’s Gardens

Research Abstract This article puts a unique spin on Charles Darwin's work by looking at the plants that he studied through the lens of ethnobotany. I employ this biocultural perspective to ex- plore a handful of species to understand how their cul- tural constructions intersect their physical appearance, biochemistry, and behavior. While Darwin's natural history studies contemplated variation, sexual reproduction, spe- ciation, and a myriad of other biological themes, I look at the conjunction of ethnography and the biology of thera- peutic and other actions to describe how diverse cultures use those species for medicine, food, and other applica- tions, and how their tangible qualities both impact health and contribute to meaning. I briefly introduce Darwin and his theory of natural selection and his impact on science and society. Following, I problematize two groups of his plants to which I apply the same theoretical perspective - what many (but not Darwin) regard to be "prosaic" garden species, and the striking insect-trapping plants.