Eric Burkhart, Ph.D.

I am a professional botanist, ethnobotanist, and agroforester. In my position as Teaching Professor here at Penn State University, I contribute to the following educational areas:

• Instruction: I teach University level courses on plant identification, biology, ecology, conservation, and management.
• Research: I am PI, co-PI or research partner for botany and ethnobotany projects involving plant use and conservation, non-timber forest products, and forest product enterprise development.
• Extension/Outreach: I lead workshops and field days for landowner and agency audiences, often in collaboration with partners.

Courses that I Teach at Penn State

Fall Semester

• FOR 203 Field Dendrology (every fall)

Spring Semester

• FOR 303 Herbaceous Forest Plant Identification, Ecology and Ethnobotany (every spring)
• FOR 403 Invasive Forest Plant Identification, Ecology and Management (in odd years, upcoming 2025)
• FOR 418 Agroforestry: Science, Design and Practice (in even years, upcoming 2026)

My Research Program and Graduate Students

I maintain a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary botany and ethnobotany research program focused on wild plant conservation, agroforestry, and horticulture. For the past two decades, I have worked on topics pertaining to forest-based (in situ) stewardship and agroforestry crop development for Appalachian specialty forest products or non-timber forest products (NTFPs). In recent years, I have also worked in central America (Belize) and the Caribbean (US Virgin Islands) on agroforestry projects involving Prickly (Zanthoxylum spp.) and cacao (Theobroma cacao).

My students and I continue to conduct research on questions relating to Appalachian Forest plant botany, ethnobotany, ecology, phytochemistry, horticulture, agroforestry, and invasive forest plants. Our collective research to date has focused on the following culturally and economically important eastern North American forest plants: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), ramps/wild leek (Allium tricoccum), ghost-pipe (Monotropa uniflora), and prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum americanum and Z. clava-herculis). I am also interested in non-native, introduced (“invasive”) forest plants, and conduct research and teaching on topics relating to their introduction, impact, and spread in eastern North American deciduous forests. 

Graduate Students Advised and Co-advised

Current Graduate Students

Anez, Savannah. 2022-2026. Indian-pipe (Monotropa uniflora) uses, phytochemistry, and chemical ecology. Ph.D. Candidate, Biology.   

Chittum, Holly. 2024-2025. Appalachian Botanical Trade Analyses. M.S. Candidate, Ecosystem Science and Management.

Lawson, Kirk. 2021-2026. A phytochemical evaluation of native agroforestry crops from Allium and Zanthoxylum. Ph.D. Candidate, Ecosystem Science and Management.

Palkovich, Rachel. 2021-2025. American ginseng morphometric studies. Ph.D. Candidate, Anthropology, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.     

Peer-reviewed Publications:

Houston, E., Burkhart, E.P., Stark, C., Chen, X., and Nilson, S.E. 2024. Habitat modeling of ramps (Allium tricoccum) in Pennsylvania: guidance for forest farming. Wild 1(1): 63-81. https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010006

Jordan, R.T., Burkhart, E.P., Kaye, M.W., Munoz D., and Lambert, J.D. 2024. Allicin and total phenolic content in ramps (Allium tricoccum Ait.) in relation to phenological stage, morphological traits, and harvest location. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2024.104846

Gao, Y., Swiggart, E., Wolkiewicz, K., Liyanapathiranage, P., Baysal-Gurel F., Avin, F.A., Lopez, E.F.P., Jordan, R.T., Kellogg, J., and Burkhart, E.P. 2024. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) extracts inhibit the growth of fungal isolates associated with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Molecules 29(3): 556. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030556

Stark, C., Nilson, S.E., and Burkhart, E.P. 2023. Two ramp taxa, Allium tricoccum Ait. and A. burdickii (Hanes) A.G. Jones), differ in abiotic habitat characteristics and floristic associates in Pennsylvania. Natural Areas Journal 43(3): 185-195. https://doi.org/10.3375/22-30

Nilson, S.E., Burkhart, E.P., Jordan, R.T., and Lambert, J.D. 2023. Seasonal observations of bulb development in ramps (Allium tricoccum Ait.): implications for wild plant stewardship and forest farming. Agroforestry Systems 97: 97-107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-022-00790-3

Burkhart, E.P., Nilson, S.E., Pugh, C.V., and Zuiderveen, G.H. 2021. Neither wild nor cultivated: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) seller surveys provide insights into in situ planting and trade. Economic Botany 73(2):126-143.

Liu, H., Burkhart, E.P., Chen, V.Y-J., and Wei, X. 2021. Promotion of in situ forest farmed American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) as a sustainable use strategy: opportunities and challenges. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9: 652103.

Zuiderveen, G.H., Burkhart, E.P., and Lambert, J.D. 2021. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid content in goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) is influenced by phenological stage, reproductive status, and time-of-day. Phytochemistry Letters 42: 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2021.02.006

Zuiderveen, G.H., Burkhart, E.P., and Lambert, J.D. 2021. Influence of post-harvest drying temperatures on alkaloid levels in goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.). HortScience 56 (2): 242-243. https://doi.org/10.21273/hortsci15500-20

Maynard-Bean, E.E., Kaye, M., Wagner, T., and Burkhart, E.P. 2020. Citizen scientists record novel leaf phenology of invasive shrubs in eastern U.S. forests. Biological Invasions 22: 3325-3337.

Chittum, H.K., Burkhart, E.P., Munsell, J.F., and Kruger, S.D. 2019. Investing in forests and communities: a pathway to sustainable supply of forest farmed herbs. Herbalgram 124 (Nov-Jan): 60-77.

Burkhart, E.P. and Zuiderveen, G.H. 2019. Wild goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) root alkaloid content in relation to colony and harvest stage. Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 25 (2): 128-140.

Burkhart, E.P. 2013. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) floristic associations in Pennsylvania:guidance for identifying calcium-rich forest farming sites. Agroforestry Systems 87 (5): 1157-1172.

Burkhart, E.P., Jacobson, M.G. and Finley, J. 2012. Stakeholder perspective and experience with wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) conservation efforts in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.:limitations to a CITES driven, top-down regulatory approach. Biodiversity and Conservation 21 (14): 3657-3679.

Burkhart, E.P. and Jacobson, M.G. 2009. Transitioning from wild collection to forest cultivation of indigenous medicinal forest plants in eastern North America is constrained by lack of profitability. Agroforestry Systems 76 (2): 437-453.