Medicinal plants and their role in the dooryard gardens of Bryan, Texas

Abstract

The study was a comparative analysis of the three major ethnic groups of gardeners in Bryan, Texas. The Black, Hispanic, and White gardeners' manner of cultivation and use of medicinal plants within the local residence was recorded, and map typologies for each group, and a composite of all three groups were made. Economic class, age, and ethnic heritage were found not to have any relation to the primary practice of gardening. The gardener's cultural heritage was examined by interview and crosscultural comparison and found to be a formative factor in the cultivation of specific medicinal plant cultivation and use. The local gardeners only used 0.20% of their lot space to cultivate medicinal plants. This led to the conclusion that the only remaining healing aspect of the local gardens used by the residents is the act of gardening itself Key Words: Gardener, Texas, medicinal plant, typology, culture, ethnic heritage, economic class.