Branches of botany

Short description: none

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Branches of botany" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Botany is a natural science concerned with the study of plants. The main branches of botany  (also referred to as "plant science") are commonly divided into three groups: core topics, applied topics which study the ways in which plants may be used for economic benefit in horticulture, core topics which associate with agriculture and forestry concerned with the study of the fundamental natural phenomena and processes of plant life, the classification and description of plant diversity, and organismic topics which focus on plant groups such as algae, mosses or flowering plants. [1]

## Contents

* 1 Applied topics
* 2 Core topics
* 3 Organismal topics
* 3.1 Groups of organisms — clades, grades and guilds
* 3.2 Study of chronological dating using plants
* 4 References

## Applied topics

* Agronomy – Application of plant science to crop production
* Arboriculture – Culture and propagation of trees
* Astrobotany \- The study of plants in space
* Biotechnology – Use of plants to synthesize products
* Dendrology – Study of woody plants, shrubs, trees and lianas
* Economic botany – Study of plants of economic use or value
* Ethnobotany – Plants and people. Use and selection of plants by humans
* Floristics - The study of plants in a specific geographical region.
* Forestry – Forest management and related studies
* Horticulture – cultivation of garden plants
* Marine botany – Study of aquatic plants and algae that live in seawater
* Micropropagation – rapid propagation of plants using cell and tissue culture
* Pharming (genetics) – Genetic engineering of plants to produce pharmaceuticals
* Plant breeding – Breeding of plants with desirable genetic characters
* Plant pathology (Phytopathology) – Plant diseases
* Plant propagation – propagation of plants from seed, bulbs, tubers, cuttings and grafting
* Pomology – Fruit and nuts
* Seed technology - Seed technology is the science dealing with the methods of improving physical and genetical characteristics of seed.

## Core topics

* Cytology – cell structure
* Epigenetics – Control of gene expression
* Paleobotany – Study of fossil plants and plant evolution
* Palynology – Pollen and spores
* Plant biochemistry – Chemical processes of primary and secondary metabolism
* Phenology – the timing of germination, flowering and fruiting
* Phytochemistry – Plant secondary chemistry and chemical processes
* Phytogeography – Plant Biogeography, the study of plant distributions
* Phytosociology – Plant communities and interactions
* Plant anatomy – Structure of plant cells and tissues
* Plant ecology – Role and function of plants in the environment
* Plant evolutionary developmental biology – Plant development from an evolutionary perspective
* Plant genetics – Genetic inheritance in plants
* Plant morphology – Structure of plants
* Plant physiology – Life functions of plants
* Plant reproduction – Processes of plant reproduction
* Plant systematics – Classification and naming of plants
* Plant taxonomy – Classification and naming of plants

## Organismal topics

### Groups of organisms — clades, grades and guilds

* Agrostology – Poaceae
* Bryology – Bryophytes
* Citrology – Citrus
* Dendrology – trees
* Lichenology – lichens
* Mycology – fungi
* Orchidology – Orchidaceae
* Phycology – algae
* Pteridology – ferns
* Synantherology – Asteraceae

### Study of chronological dating using plants

* Acanthochronology – Cactaceae
* Dendrochronology – Wood

## References

1. ↑ "Botany" (in en). Britannica. 2025-10-21. https://www.britannica.com/science/botany.

* v
* t
* e

Biology

* Introduction (Genetics, Evolution)
* Outline
* History ( template)
* Timeline
* Index

Subdisciplines|

* Anatomy
* Astrobiology
* Biogeography
* Biological anthropology
* Biomechanics
* Biophysics
* Bioinformatics
* Biostatistics
* Botany
* Cell biology
* Cellular microbiology
* Chemical biology
* Chronobiology
* Cognitive biology
* Computational biology
* Conservation biology
* Developmental biology
* Ecology
* Epidemiology
* Epigenetics
* Evolutionary biology
* Evolutionary developmental biology
* Genetics
* Genomics
* Histology
* Human biology
* Immunology
* Lipidology
* Marine biology
* Mathematical biology
* Microbiology
* Molecular biology
* Mycology
* Nanobiotechnology
* Neuroscience
* Nutrition
* Organic chemistry
* Paleontology
* Parasitology
* Pathology
* Pharmacology
* Physiology
* Psychology
* Quantum biology
* Reproductive biology
* Sociobiology
* Structural biology
* Synthetic biology
* Systematics
* Systems biology
* Toxicology
* Virology
* Zoology

Hierarchy of life|

* Biosphere > Ecosystem > Community (Biocoenosis) > Population > Organism > Organ system > Organ >Tissue]] > Cell > Organelle >Biology:Biomolecular complex

Foundations|

* Cell theory
* Ecology
* Energy transformation
* Evolution
* Genetics
* Homeostasis
* Taxonomy

Principles|

| Evolution|

* Adaptation
* Earliest known life forms
* Function
* Genetic drift
* Gene flow
* Macroevolution
* Microevolution
* Mutation
* Natural selection
* Speciation

|

Ecology|

* Biodiversity
* Biological interaction
* Community
* Ecosystem
* Habitat
* Niche
* Population dynamics
* Resources

Molecular
biology|

* Cell signaling
* Development
* Epigenetics
* Gene regulation
* Meiosis
* Mitosis
* Post-transcriptional modification

Biochemistry|

* Carbohydrates
* Enzyme
* Lipids
* Metabolism
* Nucleic acids
* Photosynthesis
* Proteins

Glossaries|

* Biology
* Botanical terms
* Ecological terms
* Plant morphology terms

* Category
* Commons
* Portal
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Botany

History of botany

Subdisciplines|

* Plant systematics
* Ethnobotany
* Paleobotany
* Plant anatomy
* Plant ecology
* Phytogeography
* Geobotany
* Flora
* Phytochemistry
* Plant pathology
* Bryology
* Phycology
* Floristics
* Dendrology
* Astrobotany

Plant groups|

* Algae
* Archaeplastida
* Bryophyte
* Non-vascular plants
* Vascular plants
* Spermatophytes
* Pteridophyte
* Gymnosperm
* Angiosperm

Plant morphology
(glossary)

| Plant cells|

* Cell wall
* Phragmoplast
* Plastid
* Plasmodesma
* Vacuole

|

Tissues|

* Meristem
* Vascular tissue
* Vascular bundle
* Ground tissue
* Mesophyll
* Cork
* Wood
* Storage organs

Vegetative|

* Root
* Rhizoid
* Bulb
* Rhizome
* Shoot
* Stem
* Leaf
* Petiole
* Cataphyll
* Bud
* Sessility

Reproductive
(Flower)|

* Flower development
* Inflorescence
* Umbel
* Raceme
* Bract
* Pedicellate
* Flower
* Aestivation
* Whorl
* Floral symmetry
* Floral diagram
* Floral formula
* Receptacle
* Hypanthium (Floral cup)
* Perianth
* Tepal
* Petal
* Sepal
* Sporophyll
* Gynoecium
* Ovary
* Ovule
* Stigma
* Archegonium
* Androecium
* Stamen
* Staminode
* Pollen
* Tapetum
* Gynandrium
* Gametophyte
* Sporophyte
* Plant embryo
* Fruit
* Fruit anatomy
* Berry
* Capsule
* Seed
* Seed dispersal
* Endosperm

Surface structures|

* Epicuticular wax
* Plant cuticle
* Epidermis
* Stoma
* Nectary
* Trichome
* Prickle

* Plant physiology
* Materials

* Nutrition
* Photosynthesis
* Chlorophyll
* Plant hormone
* Transpiration
* Turgor pressure
* Bulk flow
* Aleurone
* Phytomelanin
* Sugar
* Sap
* Starch
* Cellulose

Plant growth and habit|

* Secondary growth
* Woody plants
* Herbaceous plants
* Habit
* Vines
* Lianas
* Shrubs
* Subshrubs
* Trees
* Succulent plants

Reproduction

* Evolution
* Ecology

* Alternation of generations
* Sporangium
* Spore
* Microsporangia
* Microspore
* Megasporangium
* Megaspore
* Pollination
* Artificial
* Pollinators
* Pollen tube
* Self
* Double fertilization
* Germination
* Evolutionary development
* Evolutionary history
* timeline

Plant taxonomy|

* History of plant systematics
* Herbarium
* Biological classification
* Botanical nomenclature
* Botanical name
* Correct name
* Author citation
* International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN)
* International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP)
* Taxonomic rank
* International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)
* Plant taxonomy systems
* Cultivated plant taxonomy
* Citrus taxonomy
* cultigen
* cultivar
* Group
* grex

Practice|

* Agronomy
* Floriculture
* Forestry
* Horticulture

* Lists
* Related topics

* Botanical terms
* Botanists
* by author abbreviation
* Botanical expedition

* Category
*   * WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

History of botany

Fields and
disciplines|

* Agriculture
* Biogeography
* Bryology
* Cladistics
* Comparative anatomy
* Cytology
* Economic botany
* Ethnobotany
* Floristics
* Forestry
* Genetic engineering
* Horticulture
* Lichenology
* Molecular phylogenetics
* Mycology
* Natural history
* Numerical taxonomy
* Paleobotany
* Palynology
* Phycology
* Phytochemistry
* Phytogeography
* Plant anatomy
* Plant ecology
* Plant genetics
* Plant morphology
* Plant pathology
* Plant physiology
* Pteridology

Institutions|

* Jardin des Plantes
* Natural History Museum, London
* Orto botanico di Padova
* Orto botanico di Pisa
* Rothamsted Research
* Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Publications|

* Historia Plantarum and Causes of Plants of Theophrastus c. 300 BC
* De Plantis of Nicolaus of Damascus c. 1st-century BC
* De Materia Medica of Dioscorides c. 60 AD
* Naturalis Historia 77–79 AD
* De Vegetabilibus of Albertus Magnus c. 1256
* Herbarum Vivae Icones 1530
* Libellus De Re Herbaria Novus 1538
* Kreütterbuch of Hieronymus Bock 1539
* De plantis libri XVI of Caesalpino 1583
* Stirpium Historiae 1583
* Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes 1597
* Prodromus Theatrici Botanici 1620
* Pinax theatri botanici 1623
* Anatome Plantarum 1675
* Anatomy of Plants 1682
* Historia Plantarum of John Ray 1686–1704
* De Sexu Plantarum Epistola 1694
* Éléments de botanique 1694
* Vegetable Staticks 1727
* Systema Naturae 1735
* Genera Plantarum 1737
* Philosophia Botanica 1751
* Species Plantarum 1753
* Systema Naturae, 10th ed. 1758–9
* Familles des Plantes 1763–4
* Experiments Upon Vegetables 1779
* Die Metamorphose der Pflantzen 1790
* Traité d'Anatomie et de Physiologie Végétale 1802
* Recherches Chimiques sur la Végétation 1804
* Beyträge zur Anatomie der Pflanzen 1812
* Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 1824–73
* Nepenthaceae
* Die Vegetabilische Zelle 1851
* Vergleichende Untersuchungen 1851
* On the Origin of Species 1859
* Experiments on Plant Hybridization 1865
* Die Vegetation der Erde 1872
* Plantesamfund 1895
* Pflanzengeographie auf Physiologischer Grundlage 1898
* Variation and Evolution in Plants 1950
* Ontogeny and Phylogeny 1977
* An Integrated System of Classification of Flowering Plants 1981

Theories and
concepts|

* Alternation of generations
* Cell theory
* Center of diversity
* Phylogenetic nomenclature
* Spontaneous generation
* Taxonomy
* Ultrastructure

Influential
figures|

* Theophrastus c. 371–287 BC
* Pliny the Elder 23–79 AD
* Pedanius Dioscorides c. 40–90 AD
* Otto Brunfels 1464–1534
* Hieronymus Bock 1498–1554
* Valerius Cordus 1515–1544
* William Turner 1515–1568
* Rembert Dodoens 1517–1585
* Andrea Cesalpino 1519–1603
* Cristóbal Acosta 1525-1594
* Gaspard Bauhin 1560–1624
* Joachim Jungius 1587–1657
* John Ray 1623–1705
* Nehemiah Grew 1628–1711
* Marcello Malpighi 1628–1694
* Joseph Pitton de Tournefort 1656–1708
* Rudolf Jakob Camerarius 1665–1721
* Stephen Hales 1677–1761
* Bernard de Jussieu 1699–1777
* Carolus Linnaeus 1707–1778
* Michel Adanson 1727–1806
* Jan Ingenhousz 1730–1799
* José Celestino Mutis 1732-1808
* Félix de Azara 1742-1821
* Joseph Banks 1743–1820
* Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749–1832
* Carl Ludwig Willdenow 1765–1812
* Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure 1767–1845
* Alexander von Humboldt 1769–1859
* Aimé Bonpland 1773–1858
* Thomas Nuttall 1786–1859
* Joakim Frederik Schouw 1789–1852
* Matthias Jakob Schleiden 1804–1881
* Alexander Braun 1805–1877
* George Engelmann 1809–1884
* Asa Gray 1810–1888
* August Grisebach 1814–1879
* Joseph Hooker 1817–1911
* Gregor Mendel 1822–1884
* Nathanael Pringsheim 1823–1894
* Wilhelm Hofmeister 1824–1877
* Julius von Sachs 1832–1897
* Eugenius Warming 1841–1924
* William Gilson Farlow 1844–1919
* Andreas Franz Wilhelm Schimper 1856–1901
* Nikolai Vavilov 1887–1943
* Barbara McClintock 1902–1992
* G. Ledyard Stebbins 1906–2000
* Eugene Odum 1913–2002
* Arthur Cronquist 1919–1992

Related|

* Botanical garden
* Herbal
* Plant taxonomy
* History of plant systematics
* Systems of plant taxonomy
* Herbalism
* History of agricultural science
* History of agriculture
* History of biochemistry
* History of biology
* History of biotechnology
* History of ecology
* History of evolutionary thought
* History of genetics
* History of geology
* History of medicine
* History of molecular biology
* History of molecular evolution
* History of paleontology
* History of phycology
* History of science
* Natural philosophy
* Philosophy of biology
* Timeline of biology and organic chemistry

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Horticulture and gardening

Gardening|

* Allotment
* Arboretum
* Butterfly
* Community
* Forest
* French intensive
* Garden
* Garden design
* computer-aided
* Garden tool
* Green wall
* Guerrilla
* Historic conservation
* History
* Landscape
* Native
* Parterre
* Raised bed
* Square foot
* Sustainable
* Xeriscaping

Types of gardens|

* Alpine
* Ancient Egypt
* Back
* Baroque
* Biblical
* Bog
* Botanical
* Bottle
* Butterfly
* Byzantine
* Cactus
* Cantonese
* Chinese
* Colonial
* Color
* Communal
* Garden square
* Community
* Container
* Cottage
* Dutch
* English
* Fernery
* Floating
* Flower
* French
* formal
* landscape
* Renaissance
* Front
* German
* Greek
* Greenhouse
* Hanging
* Hügelkultur
* Islamic
* Italian
* Japanese
* Keyhole
* Kitchen
* Knot
* Korean
* Market
* Mary
* Monastic
* Mughal
* Orchard
* Indonesian home garden
* Persian
* Bāgh
* Charbagh
* Paradise
* Philosophical
* Physic
* Pleasure
* Pollinator
* Rain
* Rock
* Roji
* Roman
* Roof
* Rose
* Sacred
* School
* Scottish
* Sculpture
* Sensory
* Shade
* Shakespeare
* Spanish
* Tea
* Therapeutic
* Trial
* Tropical
* Victory
* Walled
* Water
* Wildlife
* Winter
* Zen
* Zoological

Horticulture|

* Agriculture
* stock-free
* sustainable
* urban
* Arboriculture
* Botany
* Companion planting
* Crop
* most valuable
* Flora
* Floriculture
* Fruticulture
* Genetically modified tree
* Hydroculture
* Indigenous
* Intercropping
* Landscape architecture
* Oenology
* Olericulture
* Plant
* breeding
* propagation
* drought tolerance
* hardiness
* Pomology
* Postharvest physiology
* Tropical
* Urban
* agriculture
* horticulture
* forestry
* reforestation
* Viticulture
* Monoculture

Organic|

* Biodynamic agriculture
* List of organic gardening and farming topics
* Vegan organic gardening

Plant protection|

* Fungicide
* Herbicide
* Index of pesticide articles
* List of fungicides
* Pesticide
* Plant disease forecasting
* Pruning
* Weed control
* Aquamog weed remover

Related articles|

* Garden tourism

* Category
* Agriculture and agronomy portal
* Gardening portal
* Commons
* WikiProject

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branches of botany. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Biology:Branches_of_botany&oldid=4363195"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template