Topic 1 - Why Study Plants (BIOL 2242)

T/F: plants (particularly flowering plants) produce and provide the nutrients that drive ecosystem functioning in terrestrial ecosystems

TRUE

humans rely on flowering plants for:

• diet (grains: wheat, rye, corn)

• feeding animal livestock (flwr. plnt. feed animals → protein)

• city aesthetics (e.g. public gardens)

• phytoremediation (cleaning air and soil)

• pharmaceuticals & chemicals

plants are _____ producers

primary (base of the food chain -→ energy produced through sun - photosynthesis)

uses of flowering plants (other than food)

• cosmetics

• medicine

• drugs (pleasures)

• decor and art

• hobby

• clothing

• habitat/shelter (hard wood)

• land restoration

• perfume/scent

plants and art

• dyes (e.g. indigo for denim)

• as art subjects

• as a medium (e.g. hedge mazes and whickered baskets/chairs)

plants as a hobby

• gardening

• bonsai (originated from east Asia)

• orchids

plants as therapy

• aromatic (pharmaceuticals, form of relieving stress)

• forest bathing - mentally beneficial

• craft/tradition (e.g. Indigenous Peoples)

plants - natures pharmacy

• salicylic acid - precursor to aspirin

*”sali” comes from “salix” which means willow

• quinine (malaria treatment, favors tonic water) - cinchona tree

• ginger (anti-nauseating properties)

plants _______ air conditioning costs due to _______

lower, shade

plants as study organisms

• e.g. mendel and his peas

• ethical considerations

T/F: plants are evolutionary drivers

TRUE!