Botany as a Science

Botany as a Science

• Botany and zoology are historically, related disciplines of biology.
• The word "botany" comes from the Greek word "botanē" (βοτάνη), meaning "grass" or "fodder."
• The word "botanical" comes from the Medieval Latin word "botanicus," meaning "herb" or "plant."
• Botany is the study of plants.
• Applied botany studies the human use of plants.

Branches of Botany

• Botanical science branches include morphology, anatomy, physiology, systematics, paleobotany, phenology.
• Applied science branches include forestry, ethnobotany, economic botany, agronomy, biotechnology, and horticulture.
• Many botanical science and applied science branches often overlap.

Example of branch overlap:

• Field: Systematics
• Problem: How to verify the identity of a Rafflesia species?
• Possible data used: morphology, fossil records, anatomy, phenology

Example of branch overlap:

• Field: Agriculture
• Problem: How to improve the yield of rice varieties?
• Possible data used: morphology, physiology, anatomy, biotechnology

Example of branch overlap:

• Field: Veterinary Medicine
• Problem: How to identify poisonous and edible plants for animals?
• Possible data used: morphology, systematics or taxonomy, anatomy

Binomial Nomenclature

• The scientific name of a species is a binomial, meaning it has two parts: the genus and the specific epithet.
• The binomial nomenclature system was developed by Carl Linnaeus.
• He published his groundbreaking work, "Species Plantarum" (1753).
• The system helps to avoid confusion and ensure that all scientists are referring to the same species.

Examples:

• Allium cepa (onion)
  • Genus: Allium
  • Specific Epithet: cepa

Key Figures in Botany:

• Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is known as the "father of modern botany," for developing the binomial nomenclature system.
• Carl Willdenow (1765-1812) is considered the founder of phytogeography, the study of plant distributions.
• Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is known as the "father of evolution."

Phytogeography

• It is concerned with plant distributions.

Origin Species

• Darwin's theory of evolution emphasizes the importance of understanding origin species.

Theophrastus: The Father of Botany

• Theophrastus (350 BC) is considered the "father of botany" due to his book "Historia Plantarum" (Inquiry into Plants).
• He grouped plants based on:
  • habit (growth form)
  • growth (life cycle)
  • cotyledon (seed leaf)

Development of Botany

• The European Renaissance (14th-17th centuries) was a period of scientific revival.
• Botany emerged from natural history as an independent science, becoming distinct from medicine and agriculture.

Some Key Discoveries in Modern Botany (19th-20th Centuries)

• Chlorophyll a & b - 1903
• Photosynthesis (Hill Reaction) - 1937
• Cyanobacteria - 1960
• Genetic Engineering - 1990s

Key Plant Groups:

• Bryophytes: (e.g., Marchantia)
  • lack roots, stems, flowers, and fruits
• Pteridophytes: (e.g., ferns)
  • have roots, stems, and leaves
  • vascular tissue present
  • lack flowers and fruits
• Gymnosperms: (e.g., Cycas, pine)
  • have roots, stems, and leaves
  • well-developed vascular tissue
  • lack true flowers and fruits
  • reproduce using cones
• Angiosperms: (e.g., corn, gumamela)
  • flowering plants (352,000 species)

Chlorophyll

• Chlorophyll is a key pigment in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
• It makes leaves appear green.

Explore the fascinating world of botany, the scientific study of plants. This quiz covers the branches of botany, including both botanical and applied sciences, and highlights the overlaps between different fields. Test your knowledge about the various aspects of plant science and its significance in human use.