History of Botany

Botany is a huge field of study that falls under biology. Biology is a field of science that studies all about living things and the processes that are performed within them to keep them alive. It is the study of life from a scientific and theoretical standpoint. Botany is a branch of science that deals with the study and research of plants and plant-like creatures. It explains why vegetation is so crucial to the world’s survival. Plants are the progenitors and enhancers of the most energy and food chains. They act as the main source of various vital components like oxygen, food, and medicine. In this article, you will learn in detail about Botany, Biology, the hierarchy of plants, Who is the father of botany, the importance of plants, the history of botany and FAQs.

History of Botany:

The history of Botany is a complex topic that is puzzling scientists and researchers all around the world. The root of botany and plant life is still a maze and the researchers are investing so much time, money and energy in investigating it. 

• Around 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Revolution, the first historical accounts of plants were made as a record of writing emerged in the organized agricultural societies where flora and fauna were first cultivated.
• Legends of the age Aristotle and Theophrastus were both working keenly to find and characterise plants in the 4th century B.C.E.
• The book De Materia Medica which was published by Dioscorides in the year 60 A.D described plants that are being medicinally used. This book listed different medications helpful for humans, most of which were derived from plants.
• Johannes van Helmont investigated the water intake in a tree in 1640.
• In 1665, the important tool in science called the microscope which created a breakthrough in various fields of biology was invented by Robert Hooke. As a result, Robert Hooke was able to get a close look at what a cell appears like.
• The work of  Anton van Leeuwenhoek under a microscope created a revolution in biology when he spotted a live cell in 1674.
• Historia Plantarum, a book written by John Ray, was first published in 1686. This was a dominant step forward in the development and progress of modern taxonomy.
• The book De Sexu Plantarum Epistola was written by Rudolf Camerarius gives a detailed demonstration of plant sexuality in 1694.
• Stephen Hales works and succeeds in establishing plant physiology as a specific discipline of biology in 1727.
• In 1758, Carolus Linnaeus who is regarded to be The “Father of Taxonomy” founded the science of taxonomy, which focuses on the classification, naming, characterization, and categorization of vegetative organisms.
• In 1818, One of the important components of a plant cell that aids in photosynthesis, i.e. Chlorophyll was discovered.
• Advancements and developments in the research of plant diseases are made in 1840.
• In 1847, Mayer was the first person to provide a clear and detailed explanation of the photosynthesis process.
• Charles Darwin published his evolutionary theory and adaptation which provided a detailed description of evolution among life forms in 1859.
• The actual mechanism of photosynthesis was demonstrated and found in 1862.
• Mendel’s research in 1865 gave an account of genetics and initiated the idea of hereditary information being transformed from one generation to another.
• The two forms of chlorophyll, a and b, were found in 1903.
• Alexander Oparin discovered the method of organic matter being synthesised from inorganic molecules through his experiment in 1936.
• Ecology was recognised as a separate discipline of biology in the 1940s.

The history of botany is a never-ending topic that is updated every day with new concepts and theories related to the available archaeological evidence. New technologies are being developed to study and clear the path in studying the history of botany.

Father of Botany:

The answer to the question of who is the father of botany is Theophrastus. Theophrastus was a follower and student of Aristotle. Aristotle entrusted his books, writings, findings and works to him. Aristotle officially named Theophrastus as his academic heir at his School. He was born in 370 B.C. He was a scientist, researcher, botanist, biologist and philosopher. The two massive botanical treatises have been named the  Enquiry into Plants and On the Causes of Plants are the most important of his publications. Some have labelled Theophrastus the “Father of Botany” because of his works and contributions.

Taxonomy:

Plant taxonomy is the discipline of discovering, identifying, characterizing, categorising, and naming plants. It’s one of the most important aspects of taxonomy. The taxonomy of plants can be hierarchically categorised as follows. They are:

• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

Conclusion

Botany is a wide field of biology which provides a clear and detailed view of plants, their structure, function, characteristics, existence, adaptation and evolution. It deals with a variety of subjects like plant physiology, plant anatomy, agronomy, cell biology, ecology, bryology, plant biotechnology, plant genetics and more. Plants play a major role in the existence of life and the study of plants is equally important to sustain life on earth. The field of botany is growing day by day and possesses huge parts that are to be explored.