this work reports a survey on the level of popular perception of the importance of medicinal plants on human health, and it has been conducted in the atlantic forest town of campos dos goytacazes, located at rio de janeiro state, brazil. home interviews with persons selected at random related 64 species used as medicinal, as well as the source where users may obtain information on their consumption and preparation techniques. results were obtained from semi-structured questionnaires answered by residents selected in four groups according to their income.
