In a social context, asubtribe is a secondary division of a broader ethnic grouping or tribe, functioning as a distinct unit defined by specific kinship ties,geographic territory, orlinguistic dialects. For example, theKipsigis are a major sub-tribe that falls under the broaderKalenjin ethnic group ofEast Africa.
This term also serves as a formaltaxonomic rank in biological science, where it is positioned directly below atribe (biology) and above agenus. Following this hierarchy, the Hyptidinae is a botanical subtribe categorized under the tribe Ocimeae within the mint family. In both fields, the "tribe" acts as the parent category, while the "subtribe" identifies a specific branch within that larger lineage, with scientific names typically ending in -ina foranimals (e.g., Hominina) and -inae forplants.
In an anthropological & social context, the classification works as follows:
Sub-tribe (The Division): A "sub-tribe" is a secondary division of that larger tribe, often characterized by its own distinctdialect orgeographic area while still belonging to the parent group (e.g.,Kipsigis).
Hyptidinae in Anthropology: Anthropologists study how indigenous or local sub-tribes interact with the Hyptidinae plant family. For example, rural communities in Latin America utilize various species of this subtribe as insect repellents and treatments for respiratory disorders.[citation needed]
Hierarchy Comparison: Just as the tribeOcimeae contains the subtribeHyptidinae inbiology, the ethnic tribeKalenjin contains the sub-tribeKipsigis in anthropology.
Cultural Significance: The knowledge of how to use these specific plants is often passed down through clans (smaller units within a sub-tribe), forming a vital part of a group'scultural heritage andsurvival strategy.
