Botany Scientific study of plants Algae fungi lichens

Botany *Scientific study of plants *Algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants

Botanist *Botanical research: increase and improve medicines, foods, fibers, building materials and other plant products *Conservationists: manage parks, forests, range lands, wilderness areas *Public health: solve pollution problems, some plant species are sensitive to pollutants

A. Characteristics of Plants i. Multicellular eukaryotes and photosynthetic autotrophs ii. Have cell walls made of cellulose iii. Have plastids which store food (in the form of starch) iv. Reproduce sexually or asexually v. All green parts have chloroplasts (a type of plastid) which is a pigment that reflects and transmits green vi. Other pigments are chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids (betacarotene). Beta-carotene is the pigment that gives fall foliage its yellow and orange colors

B. Plant Evolution i. 400 million years ago (terrestrial) plants called bryophytes (mosses) were alive. ii. Seedless vascular plants (ferns) iii. Gymnosperms (conifers): produce cones iv. Angiosperms (flowering plants) *most deciduous trees: *flowers *grass v. Both gymnosperms and angiosperms have vascular tissue

C. Plant Anatomy * Study of internal structures. 2 main systems, both have to be around for a plant to survive. *Root system: need in soil. Anchor plants, absorb minerals and water. *Shoot system: stems, leaves, flowers, all needed in air. Photosynthetic organs, transport water and nutrients, store food.

D. Vascular Tissue * Transports material between roots and shoots * 2 types 1. Xylem: transports water and dissolved minerals up from roots 2. Phloem: transports food made in leaves (photosynthesis) to roots and to non-photosynthetic parts of shoot system.

E. Plant Reproduction *Flowers are the reproductive organs.