ANTROPOFLORA explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and plants, documenting the diversity of points where they intersect — from rituals, customs, and mythology to the complex study of botanists, from the traditional preservation of seeds to the controlled conservation of plant germplasm in gene banks, from the magical vision of the villager living alongside wild flora to the rigorous perspective of biodiversity specialists. We dig up the books and archives in which past researchers documented ethnobotanical folklore passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth (see MONOGRAPHS), and we carry this tradition forward by recording today’s oral culture (see VIDEO).
This research takes an anthropological approach, placing emphasis on ritual, ceremonial, and mythological forms, while making no claim to be academic anthropological documentation. One could say it is more the endeavor of people passionate about this dimension — people from the community speaking about folk culture. Likewise, the medicinal-use details are meant to sketch a broad picture of the extensive range in which plants have traditionally been used over time, and serve a purely informative purpose, as this platform is not dedicated to phytotherapy.
The imprint of flora is the matrix upon which the world’s cultures were built, the fabric that unites them. Romanian ethnobotany is only the starting point — the project will go on to continue this documentation beyond the country’s borders.
ANTROPOFLORA is a living, evolving platform, seeking new researchers, and especially new information coming directly from the field. We therefore invite anyone who knows of local legends, rituals, or customs involving plants to write to us at contributii@antropoflora.com
The ANTROPOFLORA Team:
Creators and documentarians: Ioana Cotulbea, Ilinca Micu
Project manager – Maria Mora
Visual identity – Alina Anca
Botanical illustrations – Hanna Hanuman aka Bioma
Web Developer – Cosmin Tănase
Documentary film editing – Raluca David, Sanda Veber, Gina Săndulescu
ANTROPOFLORA is a cultural project co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN).
The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or for how the project’s results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding recipient.
Co-financed by AFCN
Carried out through the Homemade Culture association
Sister project POJARNITZA
Partners: Scena9, Iscoada, Radio România Cultural, The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, the “Gavrilă Simion” Eco-Museal Research Institute Tulcea, the Sibiu Environmental Protection Agency, the Friedrich Teutsch Center for Dialogue and Culture of the Evangelical Church A.C. in Romania, Tranzit.ro, the Seed Bank (Casa Semințelor)
