Biocultural Diversity and Ethnobotanical Heritage of Türkiye

Türkiye provides an exceptionally rich context for ethnobotanical research, thanks to its outstanding biodiversity and deeply rooted historical and cultural heritage. Although the country possesses extensive knowledge of traditional and folk medicine, shaped by centuries of cultural practices, there is still no comprehensive ethnobotanical volume available in English. In rural areas, local communities continue to rely significantly on the diverse native flora for medicinal, nutritional, and practical purposes. However, systematic ethnobotanical research in Türkiye only began to emerge in the mid-1990s. Most of this research has focused on specific regions (Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia and Marmara) and consisted of studies of medicinal, edible, or generally useful plants. In the recent decades, ethnobotanical research in Türkiye has become increasingly systematic and comprehensive, extending across the entire country.
This book addresses the key plants used by people in different regions of Türkiye. In this context, leading researchers conducting ethnobotanical studies in these regions have contributed chapters representing the current knowledge on the use of plants for medicinal, veterinary, food, animal feed, cosmetic, dyeing, and other purposes. The book also includes chapters on the role of ethnobotanical knowledge in the development of herbal medicine, biocultural collections in Türkiye, the link between ethnobotany and music, and plants featured in post-Republican folk minstrel works.