Introduction to Botany

Introduction to Botany

• Botany derives from the Greek word "botane," meaning "grass."
• It is a branch of biology focused on the study of plants, encompassing their forms, functions, parts, classification, diseases, life cycles, and environmental interactions.
• Plants play a crucial role in ecosystems, providing food, clothing, and medicinal resources, as well as contributing to decor and oxygen production.

Functions of Plants

• Source of food for humans and animals.
• Provides materials for clothing and textiles.
• Contributes to the economy as a source of money.
• Critical for medicinal purposes and drug development.
• Used in construction materials for housing.
• Essential for decorative and ornamental purposes.
• Produces oxygen, vital for breathing and supporting life.

Brief History of Botany

• Theoprastus, known as the Father of Botany, created early classifications based on plant flowering, distinguishing between Phanerograms (flowering) and Cryptograms (non-flowering).
• Caius Plinius Secundus, or Pliny the Elder, documented the biological, medicinal, and agricultural aspects of plants and introduced the term "stamen."
• Pedanios Dioscorides compiled "Materia Medica," detailing the medicinal properties of around 600 plant species, including Aloe and Anemone.
• Plant classification dominated botanical study from the Middle Ages until the seventeenth century.
• The invention of printing and advancements in navigation significantly boosted plant discovery and classification efforts.

Modern Applications of Botany

• Botany now intersects with genetics, chemistry, and molecular biology to enhance understanding of plants' benefits in medicine and agriculture.
• Bioprospecting enables scientists to discover and refine novel plant compounds for new medicinal uses.
• Genetic engineering improves the quality and shelf life of economically important crops like papaya and banana.

Importance of Plants to Science and Society

• Primary source of food and nutrition.
• Essential for medicine and pharmaceutical development.
• Provides fuel resources, including biofuels.
• Supplies materials for housing and construction.
• Contributes to cosmetics, accessories, and clothing.
• Enhances aesthetic values and appreciation of natural beauty.
• Inspires creativity in arts and humanities.
• Improves urban ecology and community landscape.
• Supports biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Acts as a buffer against climate change effects.

Characteristics of Life

• Living organisms are cellular in composition.
• Biological organization varies from cells to ecosystems (i.e., tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities).
• All living beings possess the ability to reproduce.
• Living organisms utilize energy, primarily in the form of ATP.
• Organisms can respond to environmental stimuli.