INTRODUCTION

TO GENERAL
BOTANY
Jeanette Mara Tan, MSc
What is Botany?

• study of plants
• from the greek word “botanikos” or
“botane” - “plant or herb”or from the
French word “botanique” – botanical
• It is concerned with the scientific study
of plants including their physiology,
structure, genetics, ecology, distribution,
classification, and economic importance.
• Botanists – scientists who study plants
A bit of history…

Theophrastus (370- 285 BC)

• Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle

• Father of Botany
• Enquiry into Plants - includes much
information about pharmacologically
active plants
• Causes of Plants
 WHAT IS A PLANT?
General characteristics:

• Eukaryotic cells
• Autotrophic and multicellular
• Cell walls contain cellulose
• Alternation of generation
• Embryonic development
 Five Characteristics Unique to Land Plants

• Apical meristem – localized regions of active cell division in roots

and shoots
• Embryophtes – multicellular dependent embryos
• Alternation of Generations- diploid and haploid stages
• Walled spores produced in sporangia
• Multicellular reproductive structures – antheridia and archegonia
FIELDS OF
BOTANY

Jeanette Mara Tan, MSc

 Arboriculture Ethnobotany - deals with plants and their relationship
It deals with the study of propagation of trees. with humans.

Dendrology - It deals with the study of woody plants

Bryology-study of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts such as shrubs and trees.
Economic Botany -It is the branch of botany that
deals with the economic uses of plants and plant Horticulture- study of Cultivation of
products. plants.

Phycology- study of algae

Mycology- study of fungi
Palynology - It is the study of pollen grains Lichenology - study of lichens. Pteridology- It is the study of ferns.
and spores.
Plant Physiology - It is the branch of botany that
deals with the study of plant processes and Plant Anatomy - This subject deals with
functions. the study of structural properties of
plants.
Paleobotany- deals with the study of plant Plant Biotechnology- It deals with
fossils the application of plants and plant
products for human welfare.
Plant Biochemistry- It is the
branch of botany that deals
with the chemical processes
and molecules involved in
plants.
Plant Genetics Plant Pathology Plant Taxonomy
It deals with the study of It deals with the study of It deals with the classification
genes and genetic diseases in plants. and naming of plants.
inheritance in plants.

Plant Morphology – study of
the form and structure of
plants.
Plant breeding - Branch of botany
dealing with the development of
improved varieties of plants.
Plant Ecology
It deals with the study of
environment and its
relationship with plants.
 Branches allied to botany

Agronomy and crop science - Horticulture - Is the science which

Pharmacognosy - Is the branch of science deals with garden crops, generally
agricultural science dealing with
dealing with the medicinal drugs from fruits, vegetables, and ornamental
field crop production and soil
plants and other natural sources plants. .
management.