Classification of Plants in the Islamic Civilization: Consideration on Some Concepts

In studying botany in the Islamic civilization three groups of texts are worthy of mention: plant books (Kutub al-Nabāt), agriculture books (Kutub al-Falāḥa), and pharmacopoeia (Kutub al-Adwīya). The last group consists of some medical books containing a major part on medicinal plants. In each group of these texts the content has been presented by specific methods and arrangements. Even if the authors remain silent about their methods of classification of the plants, one can have some idea, by scrutinizing these methods and arrangements, of the way these texts think about diverse species and genera of plants. However, in another level of analysis, if we focus on the way these texts describe the general features of the palnts, we can show that some concepts which play a role in the constitution of these classifications, and are taken as evident or as given, are in need of a better scrutiny. Based on some examples, this article tries to show that in order to achieve a more accurate analysis it is necessary to take into account both levels. For this purpose the canon of botany till 14th century will be studied.