Gradually the technique of herbalism evolved and embraced new cutting-edge methods of studying all plants more accurately. Eventually, it gained the name Botany, derived from the very ancient Greek word ‘Botane’ meaning pasture or grass. Other than herbs, shrubs and trees, botany also involves the study of algae and fungi .
Modern Botany is a broad subject focusing on various disciplines of science studies. Today, methods like life cell imaging, plant chemistry, optical microscopy and electron microscopy are used to study plant variables. In-fact, these techniques are practiced to learn about a plant’s chromosome count, enzyme and protein functions, its DNA sequence and also the molecular genetics patterns of the experimenting plant.
Researching about plants is not a cakewalk. From a plant structure to its metabolism, evolutionary relationships and taxonomy, every step is big-league.
Why is Botany an important branch of science? Living organisms, both humans and animals depend on plants for nutrition and oxygen. Plants, cyanobacteria, and algae are rich resources of oxygen. They also absorb the natural energy of sunlight and convert it into CO2 and water to facilitate the production of natural sugar that is again harnessed as a rich source of chemical energy and organic molecules. The entire process is termed as Photosynthesis
In a nutshell, plants play a very crucial role in shaping the future of human society. From food to oxygen, medicines and other beneficial products, plants are classified as vital living beings. On studying botany and executing successful research works, the scope of making discoveries, multiplying the supply of food, fiber and medicines is quite evident.
Careers in Botany Botany is a branch of science that covers a wide variety of subjects like Biology, Heredity, Plant Anatomy, Morphology and Evolution , Ecology , Plant Geography, Genetics and many others. As a result, there are multiple job opportunities waiting for you. Some of them are:
Education Professionals Plant Scientists Plant Biologists Professionals in the field of agriculture and horticulture Conservationists responsible in managing parks, forests and natural wild areas
Here are the excellent resources on botany around the web.
About.com: Botany
BioScience Research Tool: Botany
Botanic Garden of Irkutsk State University
Botanical Authors Database
Botanical collections of Belarus
Botanical Publications Database
Botanical Society of America Image Collection
Botany.Com
Botresearch USA
CalFlora
Center for Plant Conservation
Crop Diseases in Corn, Soybean, and Wheat
Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution
Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft – DPG
El Mundo de los Ficus / The World of the Ficus
Ethnobotany
Glossary of Botanical Terms
Green Plant Phylogeny
Herba
Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
Iconographia Plantarum of the Herbarium of Central Botanical Gardens of NAS of Belarus (MSKH)
Institute for Plant Ecology
International Centre for Research and Training on Seabuckthorn
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
Laboratory of growth regulators
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
Missouri Botanical Garden
National PLANTS Database
Oasis Botanical Sanctuary
PalDat
Phytoremediation environmental problems
Plant Biology Advisor
Plant Tissue Culture Information Exchange
Plants for a Future
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