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:''For other meanings, see [[Botany (disambiguation)]]''

[[Image:504px-Pinguiculagrandiflora1web.jpg|thumb|250px|''[[Pinguicula grandiflora]]'' commonly known as a [[Butterwort]]]]
[[Image:Stem-cross-section.jpg|thumb|250px|Example of a cross section of a stem <ref>Winterborne J, 2005. ''Hydroponics - Indoor Horticulture'' [http://www.hydroponicist.com]</ref>]]
'''Botany''' is the [[Scientific method|scientific study]] of plant [[life]]. As a branch of [[biology]], it is also called '''plant science(s)''', '''phytology''', or '''plant biology'''. Botany covers a wide range of scientific disciplines that study [[plant]]s, [[algae]], and [[fungi]] including: [[Plant anatomy|structure]], [[cell growth|growth]], [[reproduction]], [[metabolism]], [[morphogenesis|development]], [[phytopathology|diseases]], and chemical properties and evolutionary relationships between the different groups. The study of plants and botany began with tribal lore, used to identify edible, medicinal and poisonous plants, making botany one of the oldest sciences. From this ancient interest in plants, the scope of botany has increased to include the study of over 550,000 kinds or species of living organisms.

==Scope and importance of botany==
[[Image:Beli-hibiskus.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Hibiscus]]]]As with other life forms in biology, plant life can be studied from different perspectives, from the [[molecular biology|molecular]], [[genetics|genetic]] and [[biochemistry|biochemical]] level through [[organelle]]s, [[cell biology|cells]], [[biological tissue|tissues]], [[organ (anatomy)|organs]], individuals, plant [[population]]s, and communities of plants. At each of these levels a botanist might be concerned with the classification ([[taxonomy]]), structure ([[Plant anatomy|anatomy]] and [[Plant morphology|morphology]]), or function ([[Plant physiology|physiology]]) of plant life.

Historically, botany covers all organisms that were not considered to be [[animal]]s. Some of these "plant-like" organisms include [[fungi]] (studied in [[mycology]]), [[bacterium|bacteria]] and [[viruses]] (studied in [[microbiology]]), and [[algae]] (studied in [[phycology]]). Most algae, fungi, and microbes are no longer considered to be in the plant kingdom. However, attention is still given to them by botanists, and bacteria, fungi, and algae are usually covered in introductory botany courses.

The study of plants has importance for a number of reasons. Plants are a fundamental part of [[life on earth]]. They generate the [[oxygen]], [[food]], [[fibre]]s, fuel and [[medicine]] that allow higher life forms to exist. Plants also absorb [[carbon dioxide]] through [[photosynthesis]], a minor [[greenhouse gas]] that in large amounts can effect global climate. It is believed that the evolution of plants has changed the global atmosphere of the earth early in the earth's history and [[paleobotany|paleobotanists]] study ancient plants in the fossil record. A good understanding of plants is crucial to the future of human societies as it allows us to:
* Produce food to feed an expanding population
* Understand fundamental life processes
* Produce medicine and materials to treat diseases and other ailments
* Understand environmental changes more clearly

===Human nutrition===
[[Image:US long grain rice.jpg|right|thumb|Nearly all the food we eat comes (directly and indirectly) from plants like this American long grain [[rice]].]]
Virtually all foods eaten come from plants, either directly from [[staple food]]s and other [[fruit]] and [[vegetables]], or indirectly through [[livestock]] or other animals, which rely on plants for their nutrition. Plants are the fundamental base of nearly all [[food chain]]s because they use the energy from the sun and nutrients from the soil and atmosphere and convert them into a form that can be consumed and utilized by animals, this is what ecologists call the first [[trophic level]]. Botanists also study how plants produce food we can eat and how to increase yields and therefore their work is important in mankind's ability to ''feed the world'' and provide [[food security]] for future generations, for example through [[plant breeding]]. Botanists also study [[weed]]s, plants which are considered to be a nuisance in a particular location. Weeds are a considerable problem in [[agriculture]], and botany provides some of the basic science used to understand how to minimize 'weed' impact in agriculture and native ecosystems. Ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between plants and people.

[[Image:mendel.png|frame|left|[[Gregor Mendel]] laid the foundations of modern genetics from his studies of plants.]]

===Fundamental life processes===
Plants are convenient organisms in which fundamental life processes (like [[cell division]] and [[protein synthesis]] for example) can be studied, without the ethical dilemmas of studying animals or humans. The [[Mendelian inheritance|genetic laws of inheritance]] were discovered in this way by [[Gregor Mendel]], who was studying the way [[peas|pea]] shape is inherited. What Mendel learned from studying plants has had far reaching benefits outside of botany. Additionally, [[Barbara McClintock]] discovered '[[transposon|jumping genes']] by studying [[maize]]. These are a few examples that demonstrate how botanical research has an ongoing relevance to the understanding of fundamental biological processes.

===Medicine and materials===
Many [[medication|medicinal]] and [[recreational drugs]], like [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], [[caffeine]], and [[nicotine]] come directly from the plant kingdom. [[Aspirin]], which originally came from the [[bark]] of [[willow]] trees, is just one example. There may be many [[drug discovery|novel cures for diseases]] provided by plants, waiting to be discovered. Popular [[stimulant]]s like [[coffee]], [[chocolate]], [[tobacco]], and [[tea]] also come from plants. Most [[alcoholic beverage]]s come from [[fermentation (food)|fermenting]] plants such as [[barley]] malt and [[grapes]].

Plants also provide us with many natural materials, such as [[cotton]], [[wood]], [[paper]], [[linen]], [[vegetable oil]]s, some types of [[rope]], and [[rubber]]. The production of [[silk]] would not be possible without the cultivation of the [[mulberry]] plant. [[Sugarcane]], [[rapeseed]], [[soy]] and other plants with a highly-fermentable sugar or oil content have recently been put to use as sources of [[biofuel]]s, which are important alternatives to [[fossil fuel]]s, see [[biodiesel]].

===Environmental changes===
Plants can also help us understand changes in on our environment in many ways.

*Understanding [[habitat destruction]] and [[endangered species|species extinction]] is dependent on an accurate and complete catalog of plant [[systematics]] and taxonomy.
*Plant responses to [[ultraviolet|ultraviolet radiation]] can help us monitor problems like the [[ozone depletion]].
*[[palynology|Analyzing pollen]] deposited by plants [[geologic timescale|thousands or millions of years ago]] can help scientists to reconstruct past climates and predict future ones, an essential part of [[climate change]] research.
*Recording and analyzing the timing of plant [[biological life cycle|life cycles]] are important parts of [[phenology]] used in climate-change research.
*[[Lichens]], which are sensitive to atmospheric conditions, have been extensively used as [[pollution]] indicators.

In many different ways, plants can act a little like the '[[canary|miners canary']], an ''early warning system'' alerting us to important changes in our environment. In addition to these practical and scientific reasons, plants are extremely valuable as recreation for millions of people who enjoy [[gardening]], [[horticulture|horticultural]] and [[herb|culinary]] uses of plants every day.

==Etymology==
From [[Greek language|Greek]] βοτάνη = "[[pasture]], [[grass]], [[fodder]]", perhaps via the idea of a [[livestock]] keeper needing to know which plants are safe for livestock to eat.

==History==
[[Image:Botany.jpg|thumb|right|The traditional tools of a botanist.]]
Early examples of plant taxonomy occur in the [[Rigveda]], that divides plants into ''Vrska'' (tree), ''Osadhi'' (herbs useful to humans) and ''Virudha'' (creepers). which are further subdivided. The [[Atharvaveda]] divides plants into eight classes, ''Visakha'' (spreading branches), ''Manjari'' (leaves with long clusters), ''Sthambini'' (bushy plants), ''Prastanavati'' (which expands); ''Ekasrnga'' (those with monopodial growth), ''Pratanavati'' (creeping plants), ''Amsumati'' (with many stalks), and ''Kandini'' (plants with knotty joints). The [[Taittiriya Samhita]] and classifies the plant kingdom into ''vrksa'', ''vana'' and ''druma'' (trees), ''visakha'' (shrubs with spreading branches), ''sasa'' (herbs), ''amsumali'' (a spreading or deliquescent plant), ''vratati'' (climber), ''stambini'' (bushy plant), ''pratanavati'' (creeper), and ''alasala'' (those spreading on the ground).

[[Manusmriti]] proposed a classification of plants in eight major categories. [[Charaka Samhitā]] and [[Sushruta Samhita]] and the [[Vaisesika]]s also present an elaborate taxonomy.

[[Parashara]], the author of ''Vrksayurveda'' (the science of life of trees), classifies plants into Dvimatrka ([[Dicotyledon]]s) and Ekamatrka ([[Monocotyledon]]s). These are further classified into ''Samiganiya'' ([[Fabaceae]]), ''Puplikagalniya'' ([[Rutaceae]]), ''Svastikaganiya'' ([[Cruciferae]]), ''Tripuspaganiya'' ([[Cucurbitaceae]]), ''Mallikaganiya'' ([[Apocynaceae]]), and ''Kurcapuspaganiya'' ([[Asteraceae]]). [http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/t_es/t_es_tiwar_botany_frameset.htm]

Among the earliest of botanical works, written around [[300 B.C.]], are two large treatises by [[Theophrastus]]: ''On the History of Plants'' (''[[Historia Plantarum]]'') and ''On the Causes of Plants''. Together these books constitute the most important contribution to botanical science during antiquity and on into the Middle Ages. The Roman medical writer [[Dioscorides]] provides important evidence on Greek and Roman knowledge of medicinal plants.

In [[ancient China]], the recorded listing of different plants and herb concoctions for [[pharmaceutical]] purposes spans back to at least the [[Warring States]] ([[481 BC]]-[[221 BC]]). Many Chinese writers over the centuries contributed to the written knowledge of herbal pharmaceutics. There was the [[Han Dynasty]] ([[202 BC]]-[[220 AD]]) written work of the [[Huangdi Neijing]] and the famous pharmacologist [[Zhang Ji (Chinese physician)|Zhang Ji]] of the 2nd century. There was also the 11th century scientists and statesmen [[Su Song]] and [[Shen Kuo]], who compiled treatises on herbal medicine and included the use of [[mineralogy]].

Important medieval works of plant physiology include the ''Prthviniraparyam'' of [[Udayana]], ''Nyayavindutika'' of Dharmottara, ''Saddarsana-samuccaya'' of Gunaratna, and ''Upaskara'' of Sankaramisra. [http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/t_es/t_es_tiwar_botany_frameset.htm]

In 1665, using an early microscope, [[Robert Hooke]] discovered [[cell (biology)|cells]] in [[cork (material)|cork]], and a short time later in living plant tissue. The [[Germans|German]] [[Leonhart Fuchs]], the Swiss [[Conrad von Gesner]], and the British authors [[Nicholas Culpeper]] and [[John Gerard]] published herbals that gave information on the medicinal uses of plants.

In 1754 [[Carolus Linnaeus|Carl von Linné]] (Carl Linnaeus) devided the plant Kingdom into 25 classes. One, the '''Cryptogamia''', included all the plants with concealed reproductive parts (algae, fungi, mosses and liverworts and ferns).<ref name="Hoek, Mann and Jahns 95">'''Hoek, C.van den, Mann, D.G. and Jahns, H.M.''' 2005. ''Algae An Introduction to Phycology.'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 0 521 30419 9</ref>

===Modern botany===
A considerable amount of new knowledge today is being generated from studying [[model organisms|model plants]] like ''[[Arabidopsis thaliana]]''. This weedy species in the mustard family was one of the first plants to have its [[genome]] sequenced. The sequencing of the [[rice]] (''Oryza sativa'') genome and a large international research community have made [[rice]] the de facto [[cereal]]/[[grass]]/[[monocot]] model. Another grass species, ''[[Brachypodium distachyon]]'' is also emerging as an experimental model for understanding the genetic, cellular and molecular biology of temperate grasses. Other commercially-important staple foods like [[wheat]], [[maize]], [[barley]], [[rye]], [[pearl millet]] and [[soybean]] are also having their genomes sequenced. Some of these are challenging to sequence because they have more than two [[haploid]] (n) sets of [[chromosome]]s, a condition known as [[polyploid]]y, common in the plant kingdom. ''[[Chlamydomonas reinhardtii]]'' (a single-celled, green [[alga]]) is another plant model organism that has been extensively studied and provided important insights into cell biology.

In 1998 the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]] published a [[phylogeny]] of flowering plants based on an analysis of [[DNA]] sequences from most families of flowering plants. As a result of this work, major questions such as which families represent the earliest branches in the genealogy of [[angiosperms]] are now understood. Investigating how plant species are related to each other allows botanists to better understand the process of evolution in plants.

===Subdisciplines of Botany===

*[[Agronomy]]—Application of plant science to crop production
*[[Bryology]]—Mosses, liverworts, and hornwarts
*[[Economic botany]]—The place of plants in economics
*[[Ethnobotany]]—Relationship between humans and plants
*[[Forestry]]—Forest management and related studies
*[[Horticulture]]—Cultivated plants
*[[Paleobotany]]—Fossil plants
*[[Palynology]]—Pollen and spores
*[[Phycology]] - Algae
*[[Phytochemistry]]—Plant secondary chemistry and chemical processes
*[[Plant morphology|Phytomorphology]]—Structure and life cycles
*[[Plant anatomy]]—Cell and tissue structure
*[[Plant ecology]]—Role of plants in the environment
*Plant genetics—Genetic inheritance in plants
*[[Plant pathology]]—Plant diseases
*[[Plant taxonomy|Plant systematics]]—Classification and naming of plants

==See also==
[[Image:H J N Crantz Classis cruciformium.jpg|thumb|[[Crantz]]'s ''Classis cruciformium...'', 1769]]
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
* [[History of plant systematics]]
* [[History of phycology]]
* [[Botanical garden]] and [[List of botanical gardens]]
* [[Dendrochronology]]
* [[List of domesticated plants]]
* [[Edible Flowers]]
* [[Flower]]s and [[List of flowers]]
* [[Forestry]]
* [[Herb]]s
* [[List of botanical journals]]
* [[List of botanists]]
* [[List of botanists by author abbreviation]]
* [[List of systems of plant taxonomy]]
* [[List of publications in biology]]
* [[Paleobotany]]
* [[Palynology]]
* [[Plant anatomy]]
* [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Seeds Seeds]
* [[Plant physiology]]
* [[Plant community]]
* [[Plant sexuality]]
* [[Soil science]]

{{Horticulture and Gardening}}

* [[Tree]]s
* [[Vegetation]]
* [[Weed Science]]
</div>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* U.S. Geological Survey. [http://www.nbii.gov/disciplines/botany/ National Biological Information Infrastructure: Botany]

==Further reading==
===Popular science style books on Botany===
* [[David Attenborough|Attenborough, David]] ''[[The Private Life of Plants]]'', ISBN 0-563-37023-8
* [[David Bellamy|Bellamy, D]] ''Bellamy on Botany'', ISBN 0-563-10666-2 an accessible and short introduction to various botanical subjects
* Capon, B: ''Botany for Gardeners'' ISBN 0-88192-655-8
* Cohen, J. ''How many people can the earth support?'' W.W. Norton 1995 ISBN 0-393-31495-2
* Halle, Francis. ''In praise of plants'' ISBN 0-88192-550-0. English translation of a poetic advocacy of plants.
* King, J. ''Reaching for the sun: How plants work'' ISBN 0-521-58738-7. A fluent introduction to how plants work.
* [[Thomas Pakenham|Pakenham, T]]: ''Remarkable Trees of the World'' ([[2002]]) ISBN 0-297-84300-1
* Pakenham, T: ''Meetings with Remarkable Trees'' ([[1996]]) ISBN 0-297-83255-7
* Pollan, M ''The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-eye View of the World'' Bloomsbury ISBN 0-7475-6300-4 Account of the [[co-evolution]] of plants and humans
* Thomas, B.A.: ''The evolution of plants and flowers'' St Martin's Press [[1981]] ISBN 0-312-27271-5
* Walker, D. ''Energy, Plants and Man'' ISBN 1-870232-05-4 A presentation of the basic concepts of photosynthesis

===Academic and Scientific books on Botany===
* Buchanan, B.B., Gruissem, W & Jones, R.L. (2000) ''Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants''. American Society of Plant Physiologists ISBN 0-943088-39-9
* Crawford, R. M. M. (1989). ''Studies in plant survival''. Blackwell. ISBN 0-632-01475-X
* Crawley, M. J. (1997). ''Plant ecology''. Blackwell Scientific. ISBN 0-632-03639-7
* Ennos, R and Sheffield, E ''Plant life'', Blackwell Science, ISBN 0-86542-737-2 Introduction to plant [[biodiversity]]
* Fitter, A & Hay, R ''Environmental physiology of plants'' 3rd edition Sept 2001 Harcourt Publishers, Academic Press ISBN 0-12-257766-3
* Lambers, H., Chapin, F.S. III and Pons, T.L. 1998. Plant Physiological Ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York. ISBN 0-387-98326-0
* Lawlor, D.W. (2000) ''Photosynthesis'' BIOS ISBN 1-85996-157-6
* Matthews, R. E. F. ''Fundamentals of plant virology'' Academic Press,1992.
* Mauseth, J.D.: ''Botany : an introduction to plant biology''. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, ISBN 0-7637-2134-4, A first year undergraduate level textbook
* Morton, A.G. (1981). ''History of Botanical Science.''Academic Press, London. ISBN 0-12-508380-7 (hardback) ISBN 0-12-508382-3 (paperback)
* Raven, P.H, Evert R.H and Eichhorn, S.E: ''Biology of Plants'', Freeman. ISBN 1-57259-041-6, A first year undergraduate level textbook
* Richards, P. W. (1996). ''The tropical rainforest''. 2nd ed. C.U.P. (Pbk) ISBN 0-521-42194-2 £32.50
* Ridge, I. (2002) ''Plants'' [[Oxford University Press]] ISBN 0-19-925548-2
* Salisbury, FB and Ross, CW: ''[[Plant physiology]]'' Wadsworth publishing company ISBN 0-534-15162-0
* Stace, C. A. ''A new [[Flora (plants)|flora]] of the British Isles''. 2nd ed. C.U.P.,1997. ISBN 0-521-58935-5
* Strange, R. L. ''Introduction to [[plant pathology]]''. Wiley-VCH, 2003. ISBN 0-470-84973-8
* Taiz, L. & Zeiger, E. (1998). ''Plant physiology''. 3rd ed. August 2002 Sinauer Associates. ISBN 0-87893-823-0
* Walter, H. (1985). ''[[Vegetation]] of the earth''. 3rd rev. ed. Springer.
* Willis, K (2002) ''The evolution of plants'' Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-850065-3 £22-99

==External links==
{{WVD}}
{{Wikibooks|Botany}}
{{Portalpar|Biology}}

*[http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation]
*[http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/PlantGrowth.html plant growth] and [http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/PlantCell.html the plant cell] from [http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/ Kimball's Biology Pages]
*[http://www.botany.org/newsite/botany/ Botanical Society of America: What is Botany?]
*[http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/index.htm Science and Plants for Schools]
*[http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/palbot/teach/botanyteach.html Teaching Documents about Botany] Teaching documents, lecture notes and tutorials online: an annotated link directory.
*[http://www.aspb.org/aboutus/ American society of plant biologists APSB]
*[http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/teaching/content.html Why study Plants? Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge]
*[http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/ Botany Photo of the Day]
===Flora and other plant catalogs or databases===
* [http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/www-vl/ The Virtual Library of Botany]
* [http://www.kulak.ac.be/bioweb/ High quality pictures of plants and information about them] from Catholic University of Leuven
* [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK1xC981/ Curtis's Botanical Magazine], 1790-1856
* [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/ The Trees Of Great Britain and Ireland], by Henry John Elwes & Augustine Henry, 1906-1913
* [http://www.pflanzen-portal.com Botanik-Datenbank] (ger.)
* [http://green-24.de/search/botanik/pflanzen/index.html Plant Directory] (ger.)
* [http://plants.usda.gov/index.html USDA plant database]
* [http://www.linnean.org/ The Linnean Society of London]
* [http://wildflower.utexas.edu/ Native Plant Information Network]
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{{Botany}}
{{Biology-footer}}

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MediaWiki default at 04:03, 15 September 2007