Plant knowledge and use in the context of migration

Abstract

The infl uence of migration on plant knowledge and use, which are key cultural elements in many societies, will be addressed in this chapter. Medicinal plants will be emphasized, as these are the most studied resources in the context of migration. The importance of differentiation between knowledge and use in migration studies will be discussed because many plants known to migrants cannot be used due to unavailability in a new environment. Strategies for the use of medicinal plants by migrant people will also be discussed; these have been classifi ed into (1) acquisition of original plants and (2) adaption to the new fl ora. Such strategies can gain or lose strength based on certain factors, such as climate or fl oristic similarity between areas, sanitary barriers present in the new environment, and others. Finally, changes in health systems resulting from the migration process will be discussed, and a little-reported process in the literature is noted: medical systems based on the incorporation of plants when there is urban-rural migration.