What is "pharmacognosy"

Pharmacognosis \Phar`ma*cog*no"sis\, n. [Gr. fa`rmakon a drug + gnw^sis a knowing.] That branch of pharmacology which treats of unprepared medicines or simples; -- usually called pharmacognosy, and also pharmacography, and pharmacomathy.

n. A branch of pharmacology that studies medical substances that are derived from natural sources, and their recognition.

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs from natural sources." It is also defined as the study of crude drugs.