Library Research in Economic Botany

Prepared by Anne Turhollow for Biology 460
Additional material by Marilyn Hall
Fall 2004

Before you start your library research, know your instructor's requirements for your paper and presentation. Remember that research takes time even with computers. Economic botany and especially natural products research can pose special challegnes. The literature is scattered and published in many different journals from many countries and in many languages. You will have to request material from other libraries. So try and give yourself at least three to four weeks to gather all the books and journal articles you may need and make sure to schedule time as well to read your material.

Where you start depends on what you know already and what you've choosen to research.

Do you have a "classic" article or book that you want to explore or find how current researchers are using it? Then start with the section on Citation Indexes.

Do you have a topic and list of a references to locate? Then start with the sections on Locating Journal Articles and Locating Books.

Do you have a topic or location, but do not have any journal articles or books yet? Then start below with the Background Resources.

Background Resources

The resources listed below will give you both an overview of your subject and provide a brief listing of books and journal articles to get you started.

Cambridge World History of Food. 2 volumes.

TX 353 C255 2000 Reference

Culinary Herbs

SB 351 H5 S522 1997 Reference

Dictionary of Cultivated Plants and Their Regions of Diversity

SB 71 Z46 1982 Reference

Encyclopedia of Agricultural Science. 4 volumes.

S 411 E713 1994 Reference

Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science

SB 45 E486 2004 Reference

Evolution of Crop Plants

SB 71 E88 Reference

Fruits of Warm Climates

SB 359 M76 1987 Reference

Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2nd ed.

QK 99 A1 D83 2002 Reference

Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs

RM 666 H33 H37 2000 Reference Table 4

Major Medical Plants: Botany, Culture, and Uses

QK 99 A1 M67 Reference

Martindale: the Complete Drug Reference

RS 141.3 M4 2002 Reference Table 4

Review of Natural Products

RS 160 R49 Reference Table 4