Botany is a branch of biological science which deals with the study of
plants. Scientific disciplines such as agricultural sciences and forestry
are based on the basic science of botany. Botany studies the structure,
growth, reproduction, metabolism, development, diseases and chemical properties
and evolutionary relationships between different groups of plants. It
encompasses the study of more than three hundred thousand species of plants
ranging from ground-hugging mosses to giant redwood trees.
Traditionally, the concept 'plant' includes a whole range of living organisms,
from bacteria, algae, fungi, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and flowering
plants. In other words, plants include a large group ranging from the
smallest bacteria to the largest sequoia tree. Plants play a prominent
role in our day to day life, providing us even with the basic necessities
such as food, clothing, and shelter to medicine, fibers and building materials;
improving environmental condition by taking in carbon dioxide and giving
out oxygen, to even creating aesthetic environments.
Botany as a career is best suited for people who have an affinity towards
nature and plants. A person qualified in botany is called a Botanist.
Botanistsplay an important part in modern science and
industry. Their work affects agriculture, agronomy (soil and crop science),
conservation, forestry, and horticulture. In general, Botanists study
the development and life processes of plants. In a broader sense, botanist
is one who study and research on various aspects of the plant kingdom
such as origin and development of various plant species, taxonomic classification,
plant physiology, plant pathology, plant fossils, mycology (study of fungi)
and so on. Overall, botanists study the behavior of plants from the chromosome
level to the reproduction process.
Botanical studies have helped in the development of many medicines and
drugs which are extracted from plants and are really helpful to fight
many diseases. It also help in the production of plants which provide
natural raw materials like cotton, rubber, paper, silk, vegetable oils
etc.
