Unmaking Botany: Science and Vernacular Knowledge in the Colonial Philippines

Key Points

• The research aims to explore how plant naming reflects the political, social, and cultural history of the Philippines during colonial times.
• Analyzed historical texts and botanical records from the colonial period.
• Examined the influence of different imperial powers on the vernacular naming of plants.
• Investigated social and political contexts affecting botanical naming practices.
• Found significant shifts in plant naming corresponding with changes in colonial rule.
• Identified connections between plant names and local cultural identity under imperial influence.
• Demonstrated that naming practices served as a reflection of social hierarchies and resistance.