What is botany?
Botany = the scientific study of plant life
Botany includes:
- Classification - the way that plants can be put into groups
- Physiology - what plants look like, what they are made from and the processes that occur within them
- Genetics - how they have evolved and how they can be changed by breeding or genetic modification
- Ecology - where they live and how they interact with their surroundings
- Economics - the importance of plant sales as food, ornamentals, medicine and cut flowers for example
Why is the study of botany important?
| Area | Example |
|---|---|
| Increasing yield for crops | Amount of strawberry fruits produced per plant |
| Environmental protection | Understanding native plants and ecosystems |
| Improving plant characteristics | Better flower or leaf form, size or colour |
| Increased economic productivity | Growing plants more cost effectively |
| Developments in medicine | A new drug derived from goji berries has been found to treat deadly tropical diseases |
| Developments in construction | Not just improved timber growth rate or strength but other materials such as rubber are derived from plants |
| Developments in textiles | Replacements for plastic based products – replacing plastic fleece with bamboo or hemp |
| Energy | Biofuels |
| Pollution reduction | Some plants remove toxic pollutants from soil |
Last modified: Thursday, 6 April 2023, 11:25 AM