An ethnobotanical meta-analysis of North American medicinal Asteraceae

The Asteraceae is the largest family of plants in North America and widely used as medicine by Indigenous peoples. This study investigated medicinal ethnobotany American to identify taxa that appear preferentially selected or avoided for general specific uses. Asteraceae-specific ethnobotanical reports recorded Native Ethnobotany database were compiled and, using residual binomial analyses, 14 tribes compared ranked either over- under-selected medicine, food, technology, different categories applications. Statistical analysis supported hypothesis selection species purposes non-random does not depend on size flora. Anthemideae tribe was identified over-selected all types applications, including most therapeutic categories, significantly pulmonary orthopedic aids. Subsequent revealed over-representation this attributed mainly Achillea millefolium L. Artemisia spp. significance Anthemideae, particularly highly taxa, emphasizes their cultural importance Americans. Residual statistics generally provided parallel results, but supplementary statistical methods, further in-depth investigation other use inclusion plant distribution data may provide greater insight into traditional uses America.