Fields of Botany — Study Notes (Lecture 4)

Overview

  • Botany progressed rapidly during the 19th and 20th centuries, accumulating knowledge on various aspects of plant life.
  • It is divided into different specific branches, each focusing on a particular aspect of plants.

Morphology

  • External Morphology: study and description of external characters of plant organs such as root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, etc.
  • Internal Morphology: study of internal structure of different plant organs. It has two branches:
    • Histology: study of different tissues present in the plant body.
    • Anatomy: study of gross internal details of plant organs like root, stem, leaf, flower, etc.

Cytology (Cell Biology)

  • Cytology (or) Cell Biology: study of structure and functions of cell and cell organelles and their multiplication.

Embryology

  • Embryology: branch that deals with the study of development of male and female gametophytes, formation of gametes, process of fertilization, development of embryo, endosperm and seed.

Palynology

  • Palynology: study of the development, structure, and all other aspects related to microspores or pollen grains.

Plant Taxonomy

  • Plant Taxonomy: identification, nomenclature and classification of plants into related groups on the basis of information obtained from different fields of Botany.

Plant Physiology

  • Plant Physiology: study of different vital activities of plants such as absorption of water and minerals, photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen metabolism, growth, etc.

Plant Ecology

  • Plant Ecology: study of reciprocal relationship between the plants and the environment in which they are living.

Palaeobotany

  • Palaeobotany: study of fossil plants; it helps us in understanding the course of evolution in plants.

Genetics

  • Genetics: branch dealing with all aspects related to genes such as their structure, synthesis, inheritance, mutations, etc.

Phytogeography

  • Phytogeography: study of distribution of plants in different parts of the globe during the past and present periods of time.

Phycology

  • Phycology: study of all aspects related to algae, which are chlorophyllous and autotrophic thallophytes.

Mycology

  • Mycology: deals with the study of fungi which are non-chlorophyllous, heterotrophic thallophytes.

Lichenology

  • Lichenology: study of lichens, a special group of plants in which an algal member and a fungal member live together as symbionts; they mostly grow on rocks.

Bryology

  • Bryology: study of bryophytes.

Pteridology

  • Pteridology: study of pteridophytes, which are the first vascular plants and therefore called ‘Vascular Cryptogams’.

Microbiology

  • Microbiology: includes the study of all microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoans, etc.

Bacteriology

  • Bacteriology: study of bacteria.

Virology

  • Virology: branch concerned with the study of viruses.

Pomology

  • Pomology: study of fruits and fruit-yielding plants.

Anthology

  • Anthology: study of flowers.

Agrostology

  • Agrostology: study of grasses or lawns.

Dendrology or Xylology

  • Dendrology or xylology: study of shrubs and trees.

Dendrochronology

  • Dendrochronology: determination of age of the trees by counting annual rings.

Phenology

  • Phenology: study of seasonal changes in plants.

Xylotomy

  • Xylotomy: study of wood or Xylem vessels.