The History Of Botany And How It Has Evolved Over Time
Did you know that there is a science dedicated to the study of plants? It’s called botany, and it’s a fascinating field of study. Botanists learn about plant morphology, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and classification. We will introduce you to the basics of botany and discuss some of the plants that are native to New England. So, let’s learn botany!
Botany is the scientific study of plants and their structures, physiology, ecology and evolution. Sub-disciplines of botany include plant taxonomy, plant physiology and chemical ecology. Plant taxonomy is the classification and naming of various individual species of plants in an effort to advance our knowledge on them.
Plant physiology focuses on the understanding of chemical processes within a plant in order for us to better understand how a plant functions and grows. Lastly, chemical ecology is centered around the effect that chemicals secreted by plants have on their environment, such as with their seed dispersal or attraction to pollinators. An interesting aspect of botany today is how advances are translating into potential applications in the biotechnology field, such as mybiosource. All together, these sub-disciplines work to develop a comprehensive understanding of each unique species within the plant kingdom.
Botany, the scientific study of plants, has a long history that is as old as civilization itself. Ancient cultures passed down knowledge and traditions about the edible and medicinal properties of plants from generation to generation. Over time, as civilizations developed more complex societies and cities, botanical knowledge was increasingly refined and organized. The Linnaean system of plant classification arose in the 18th century and it revolutionized taxonomy by dividing plants into distinct families with shared characteristics. This development allowed much greater accuracy in detecting new species and understanding their evolutionary relationships to one another. Today botany continues to evolve each year with new discoveries into the incredible world of plant life.