This volume, as the seventh of the series Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, deals with the medicinal and aromatic plant (MAPs) treasures of the so-called Southern Cone, the three southernmost countries (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) of South America. Similarly to the previous volumes of the series, the main focus is to collect and provide information on major aspects of botany, traditional usage, chemistry, production / collection practices, trade and utilization of this specific group of plants. The contributors, who are recognized professionals and specialist of the domain, have collected and present state of the art information on 41 species. Most of these are not only of interest from the scientific point of view, but hold also a potential for the prospective utilization of the decreasing, occasionally overexploited / endangered medicinal plant resources of this huge continent. The book is expected to serve as a source of information also on some less known or less studied species. As such the volume is expected to support future research and public health professionals.

This volume in the series deals with the major Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) of South America, providing information on major aspects of this specific group of plants on that continent (botany, traditional usage, chemistry, production/collection practices, trade and utilization). Brazil, in particular, offers an immense amount of biodiversity, including plants with great pharmacological interest and ethno-medicinal importance. Contributions are from internationally recognized professionals, specialists of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant domain and have been invited mostly from the members of the International Society for Horticultural Science and International Council for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.