Michael Wilken-Robertson, ethnobotanist, is set to speak at the first Botany Society public lecture for the 2016-17 season. His talk will take place at the Discovery Lab in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center. The talk is free to the public.

Mr. Wilken-Robertson is an applied cultural anthropologist and recently completed the curation of the Kumeyaay exhibit of the Tecate Community Museum, as well as a Master’s thesis on Kumeyaay ethnobotany.

The territory of the Kumeyaay originally extended well into the desert areas east of the peninsular range, including parts of what is known today as Anza Borrego Desert State Park. This talk will focus on the author’s ethnobotanical research and findings from Baja California that are relevant to the ABDSP region, including prehistoric life ways of the Kumeyaay, historical and ethnographic descriptions of native peoples, and traditional uses of native plants. Plants to be discussed include Desert Agave, California Fan Palm, Jojoba, Holly-Leaf Cherry, Indian Tea, California Juniper, Arrow Weed, Manzanita, Mohave Yucca, Western Cottonwood, Prickly Pears and many others.

Who: Michael Wilken-Robertson, Ethnobotanist
What: Kumeyaay Ethnobotany and Lifeways
When: Monday, December 12, 2016; 10 AM
Where: Discovery Lab, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® Visitor Center
Cost: Free to the public