“Flowers always make people feel better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul”
~Luther Burbank
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What is Botany?
Botany, also known as plant science or plant biology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher who first studied with Plato and then became a disciple of Aristotle, is credited with founding botany. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek botanist of the 1st century CE, was the most important botanical writer after Theophrastus.
In his major work, an herbal in Greek, he described some 600 kinds of plants, with comments on their habit of growth and form as well as on their medicinal properties. Unlike Theophrastus, who classified plants as trees, shrubs, and herbs, Dioscorides grouped his plants under three headings: as aromatic, culinary, and medicinal. His herbal, unique in that it was the first treatment of medicinal plants to be illustrated, remained for about 15 centuries the last word on medical botany in Europe.
Why become Interested in Botany?
With global warming on the rise, learning about botany will provide you with more information on certain types of plants that can help reduce the carbon levels in your area for example.
For reducing pollution you can plant Buxus sempervirens. They are vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrubs or small trees. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves. Its dense habit makes it ideal for hedging or screening and it can be closely clipped into different shapes. It's an excellent plant to make into topiary, as you can leave a smart finish after trimming.
For cooling walls you can grow fuchsias. Fuchsias are a genre of flowering plants that consist of shrubs or small trees. The flowers last all summer long and there are thousands of varieties available, in shades of white, candy pink, magenta, purple and red. Some varieties have golden or variegated foliage, or purple or red-tinged leaves, too.
How to become a Botanist?
A botanist is a scientist who studies plants on micro and macro levels. They examine all aspects of plants, such as how plants can help produce medicine, enhance crops in agricultural production, provide energy sources and cleanse contamination. They might also research the effects and relationships of plants within specific ecosystems to better understand how nature functions in those spaces. Botanists can perform a variety of duties depending on their area of specialisation. Here are some common tasks botanists might complete:
Why become Interested in Botany?
With global warming on the rise, learning about botany will provide you with more information on certain types of plants that can help reduce the carbon levels in your area for example.
For reducing pollution you can plant Buxus sempervirens. They are vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrubs or small trees. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves. Its dense habit makes it ideal for hedging or screening and it can be closely clipped into different shapes. It's an excellent plant to make into topiary, as you can leave a smart finish after trimming.
For cooling walls you can grow fuchsias. Fuchsias are a genre of flowering plants that consist of shrubs or small trees. The flowers last all summer long and there are thousands of varieties available, in shades of white, candy pink, magenta, purple and red. Some varieties have golden or variegated foliage, or purple or red-tinged leaves, too.
How to become a Botanist?
A botanist is a scientist who studies plants on micro and macro levels. They examine all aspects of plants, such as how plants can help produce medicine, enhance crops in agricultural production, provide energy sources and cleanse contamination. They might also research the effects and relationships of plants within specific ecosystems to better understand how nature functions in those spaces. Botanists can perform a variety of duties depending on their area of specialisation. Here are some common tasks botanists might complete:
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Researching plants
Experimenting with plants to create medical solutions
Observing plant growth and functions
Examining previous plant and ecosystem conditions
Testing and analysing plant properties
Some examples of botany specialisation areas that people with the degree of Botany can work in are such as;
Taxonomy: This is the study of finding new plant species and assigning them classifications.
Ecology: This is the study of plants in relation to their environment.
Biology: This is the study of interactions between plant cells in relation to daily functions and reproductive activities.
Paleobotany: This is the study of plant fossils that may be extinct to determine what time period they might be from.
Ethnobotany: This is the study of relationships between humans and plants.
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately you can't become a botanist without a degree in botany, plant science or general biology. However, with the degree there are many fields that a botanist can explore and work under. Additionally, they can also study further and gain their masters and specialize further.
Experimenting with plants to create medical solutions
Observing plant growth and functions
Examining previous plant and ecosystem conditions
Testing and analysing plant properties
Some examples of botany specialisation areas that people with the degree of Botany can work in are such as;
Taxonomy: This is the study of finding new plant species and assigning them classifications.
Ecology: This is the study of plants in relation to their environment.
Biology: This is the study of interactions between plant cells in relation to daily functions and reproductive activities.
Paleobotany: This is the study of plant fossils that may be extinct to determine what time period they might be from.
Ethnobotany: This is the study of relationships between humans and plants.
The Bottom Line
Unfortunately you can't become a botanist without a degree in botany, plant science or general biology. However, with the degree there are many fields that a botanist can explore and work under. Additionally, they can also study further and gain their masters and specialize further.
Botanists can also choose to develop their skills further by doing internships and gaining work experience. This will help them gain soft and hard skills to battle through in the workplace. They can also learn about new practices and can become a certified professional botanist or complete related certifications. Some examples of the certification include Advanced horticulture, traditional healing using plants and sustainable farming.
Related certifications may also include topics like conservation management or research data analysis. Meanwhile, professional botanist certification focuses on certifying you in botany best practices. Usually, colleges, universities or learning companies offer these types of certifications. Joining Botany related associations and societies would also help strengthen the connections in the botany world, these include such as the Botanical Society of America (BSA), American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT) or Ecological Society of America (ESA).
Written by - Vidita Sachdeva
Written by - Vidita Sachdeva
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