9781422272893

Botanists study all kinds of plant life, even algae.

BOTANY Botany is the study of plants, big and small. Botanists research trees, flowers, bushes, algae, fungi, and even lichens. They discover and research new plant species. They carefully examine the structure and chemical makeup of each specimen. Botanists study the ideal conditions required for a plant species to thrive. They assess any possible human health benefits a plant might provide. They consider whether a plant might be useful for fabric, paper, building material, or any other industrial uses. Botany is important for nature lovers and conservationists, who use their knowledge of plants to preserve nature areas all over the world. Global tribal communities have studied and used native plants for ages. Often these tribes use local plants for food, medicine, housing materials, clothing, and spiritual practices. Their knowledge of nearby plants is thorough and detailed. Since some poisonous plants can look nearly identical to other beneficial plants, tribe members (and botanists) must be extremely careful and very knowledgeable. Making the wrong selection can be deadly.

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