Botany is a science that has been of vital importance for human being since the beginning of civilization. And it is that the plant world is not only very wide, but it provides us with goods as varied and necessary as foods, medicines, fabrics and construction materials.
If you want to learn more about studies related to the science of botany, stay in this ecology article in which you will find everything about branches of botany and what do each study.
What is botany and what is it for
The definition of botany tells us that it is a science, specifically a Biology branch in charge of Study vegetables In all its fields and levels. The etymology of the word comes from the Greek ฮฒฮฟฯฮฌฮฝฮท, whose meaning is grass, although it is also sometimes called fitology, which comes from the words and treated.
If we consider what the Origin of Botany We must go back to the same prehistory, when the first humans learned to identify the different plant species in search of edible plants or with medicinal properties. It is considered Theofrastoa philosopher of ancient Greece, the father of botany, since in his treaties and studies he laid the bases that would develop in the coming centuries.
By considering more concretion What study botanywe find that it actually covers very different organisms as an object of study, as much as algae, plants, fungi and cyanobacteria are, some of which barely have points in common.
Because of this, the Botany career studies They have a lot of different branches, which we will see in detail a little below. And what to study to be botanist? According to El Paรญs, this can change but, for example, in Spain this area of โโwork can be accessed from different degrees, although it is usual to do it from an agronomist, from biology, from a forest engineering and the natural environment or from a mountain engineering, all of them with the appropriate specialties.
What are the branches of botany
This science has a lot of branches, since as we have said, it covers a huge area of โโstudy that must be divided according to where botany is applied. The main division differentiates the pure botany of the applied, the first being a study of species as a basic science, and the second working knowledge to obtain practical purposes. These are some of the main branches of botany:
- Phytochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Histology
- Phytopathology
- Phytogography
- Geobotany
- Paleobotany
- Bryology
- Phanerogamous Botany
- Cryptogamic botany
Next we will explain some of these botany branches in detail.
Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry, as the name implies, focuses on the study of Phytochemical productswhich are those who are can derive from plants. Phytochemistry can be considered branch of both botany and chemistry.
It seeks to identify the compounds that the different species of plants produce and how they can affect the human being or use for some benefit. Plants produce phytochemicals As part of its survival and defense mechanisms of innumerable forms, and many of them can be beneficial to our health.
Cell Biology
This branch of botany Study the cell individuallyas a basic unit of life. The Cell Biology Identify and study the functions and structures of the cell, seeking to explain its processes and functions.
It is a branch of great importance, since the knowledge it provides are basic for the others. It is closely related to genetics and biochemistry.
Histology
This branch of botany consists of Study of tissue microanatomy and animal and plants cells. Observation is carried out by optical and electronic microscopes, using tissue crops as samples. Similar to cell biology, it is a branch of great importance for the development of others.
If you want to learn a little about plant histology, here we explain the types of plant tissues, their characteristics and functions.
Phytopathology
Phytopathology studies diseases that plants suffereither because of infectious organisms, also called pathogens, or factors such as environmental conditions.
It works here with bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, parasitic plants and phytoplasmas, among others, although larger insects and animals that the plants are out of the plants are out.
Phytogography
This branch focuses on identifying the geographical distribution of different plant species Throughout the planet, covering all its aspects and different scales.
This branch is essential to help others locate vegetables on the planet and, thus, know what their natural environment is and understand them much better.
Geobotany
Geobotany studies the different ways in which plants adapt to particular conditions of their environments, both individually and in community. It is a branch of botany as diverse as the different habitats in which plants develop.
Paleobotany
The Botany Branch called Paleobotany It focuses on the study and recovery of plant remains from past times, already fossilized or preserved in another way. It seeks to provide information about what the species that are no longer among us were and how current plants have evolved.
You may also be interested in discovering the origin and evolution of plants with this other post.
Systematic botany
This Botany descriptive branch Study Diversity of existing organisms, as well as the relationships that occur between them. It focuses on completing information about the different evolutionary steps and describing everything possible.
What studies briology
The briophytesusually called mosses but that include more types of plants, are a much less popular branch for the general public, but of great importance in the development of plant life on our planet. The briology It is precisely responsible for the study of these species, in all its fields and slopes. It covers the study of both the mosses themselves, as well as the antรณcers and the liver.
If you want to discover more on this topic, you can consult this other article about the briophyte plants: examples and characteristics. Now that you know what botany is and what each of its branches studies, as well as the importance of botany for humans, you may be interested in learning what natural sciences and their branches are.
If you want to read more articles similar to Branches of botany and what do each studywe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.