What is Botany?
Botany is the scientific study of plants, encompassing their structure, function, growth, reproduction, and evolution. Derived from the Greek word botane, meaning "plant" or "herb," botany explores the diverse world of the plant kingdom, from microscopic algae to towering trees.
At its core, botany integrates principles from biology, chemistry, and ecology to understand how plants interact with their environments. For example, botanists classify plants into categories like angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (non-flowering seed plants), which helps in identifying species like the oak tree (Quercus robur) versus the pine (Pinus sylvestris).
This foundational knowledge is essential for anyone interested in the living world, as plants form the base of most ecosystems.