Abstract

This paper examines the origins of medicinal plants used on the West Indian island of Montserrat, focusing on circumstances surrounding the introduction of exotic species. Most of the exotic species that became part of the folk pharmacopoeia were introduced within 100 years of English settlement. Despite the early, severe, and continuing disturbance of the island ecosystem, and despite its permanent settlement by Old World peoples, 72% of the species used medicinally are of New World origin. While the population has been dominantly of African derivation since 1700, few plants used medicinally are of African origin.

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