Botany

Botany, or plant science, is the scientific study of plant life, including their structure, properties, processes, and interactions with the environment. It encompasses a wide range of organisms traditionally classified as plants, such as algae, bryophytes, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants.

Core areas include plant anatomy and morphology, physiology, taxonomy and systematics, ecology, genetics and genomics, and applied disciplines such as agronomy, horticulture, forestry, and plant pathology. Subfields also cover paleobotany, ethnobotany, plant biochemistry, and developmental biology. The field seeks to explain how plants grow, reproduce, adapt, and evolve, as well as how they influence and are influenced by ecosystems.

Historically, botany developed from natural history in ancient times and was advanced by figures such as Theophrastus and Linnaeus. The 19th and 20th centuries brought major advances in plant physiology, genetics, and molecular biology, expanding knowledge of photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and gene function. Methods include microscopy, field observations, controlled experiments, cultivation and breeding techniques, and modern molecular and computational approaches. Botany underpins agriculture, horticulture, forestry, conservation, and medicine, and it informs studies of climate change, food security, and biodiversity.