FOREST BOTANY Dr.K.KUMARAN, Ph.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (FORESTRY) FOREST COLLEGE & RESEARCH INSTITUTE METTUPALAYAM

Dr.K.KUMARAN DEFINITION Botany is the scientific study of plant life Botany is the scientific study of plant life Study of living and fossil plants, including form, function, interaction with the environment, and classification Study of living and fossil plants, including form, function, interaction with the environment, and classification

Dr.K.KUMARAN SYNONYMS Plant Science Plant Science Plant Biology Plant Biology Botany covers a wide range of scientific disciplines that study plants Botany covers a wide range of scientific disciplines that study plants structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development and diseases of plants, chemical properties and evolutionary relationships between different plant groups. structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development and diseases of plants, chemical properties and evolutionary relationships between different plant groups.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Objectives To understand different forms of plants To understand different forms of plants To identify different species – trees To identify different species – trees To understand their inter relationship To understand their inter relationship Plant ecosystem interaction Plant ecosystem interaction Role in altering food chain Role in altering food chain Plantation Management Plantation Management Wildlife management Wildlife management

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Oldest science - tribal lore Oldest science - tribal lore Over 550,000 kinds or species of living organisms. Over 550,000 kinds or species of living organisms. Plant life can be studied from different perspectives from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level Plant life can be studied from different perspectives from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level At each of these levels a botanist might be concerned with the classification (taxonomy), structure (anatomy), or function (physiology) of plant life. At each of these levels a botanist might be concerned with the classification (taxonomy), structure (anatomy), or function (physiology) of plant life.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Botany covers all organisms that were not considered to be animals including plant-like organisms like Botany covers all organisms that were not considered to be animals including plant-like organisms likeanimals Fungi - mycology Fungi - mycology Bacteria and viruses - microbiology Bacteria and viruses - microbiology Algae - phycology Algae - phycology

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Plants are a fundamental part of life on earth Plants are a fundamental part of life on earthlife on earthlife on earth They generate the oxygen, food, fibres, fuel and medicine that allow higher life forms to exist They generate the oxygen, food, fibres, fuel and medicine that allow higher life forms to existoxygenfoodfibresoxygenfoodfibres Plants also absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis Plants also absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesiscarbon dioxide photosynthesiscarbon dioxide photosynthesis Evolution of plants has changed the global atmosphere of the earth early in the earths history Evolution of plants has changed the global atmosphere of the earth early in the earths history Paleobotanists study ancient plants in the fossil record Paleobotanists study ancient plants in the fossil record

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Why? Produce food to feed an expanding population Produce food to feed an expanding population Understand fundamental life processes Understand fundamental life processes Produce medicine and materials to treat diseases and other aliments Produce medicine and materials to treat diseases and other aliments Understand environmental changes Understand environmental changes

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Human nutrition Virtually all foods eaten come from plants, either directly or indirectly Virtually all foods eaten come from plants, either directly or indirectly Plants are the fundamental base of nearly all food chains i.e., first trophic level Plants are the fundamental base of nearly all food chains i.e., first trophic level Botanists also study weeds, Botanists also study weeds, Ethnobotany is the study of the Ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between plants and relationships between plants and people people American long grain ricerice

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Fundamental life processes Plants are convenient organisms to study fundamental life processes Plants are convenient organisms to study fundamental life processes The genetic laws of inheritance were discovered in this way by Gregor Mendel, The genetic laws of inheritance were discovered in this way by Gregor Mendel, who was studying the way pea shape is inherited who was studying the way pea shape is inherited Barbara McClintock discovered 'jumping genes' by studying maize Barbara McClintock discovered 'jumping genes' by studying maize

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Medicine and materials Many medicinal and recreational drugs, like cannabis, caffeine, and nicotine Many medicinal and recreational drugs, like cannabis, caffeine, and nicotine Aspirin, - bark of willow trees Aspirin, - bark of willow trees Popular stimulants like coffee, chocolate, tobacco, and tea also come from plants Popular stimulants like coffee, chocolate, tobacco, and tea also come from plants Most alcoholic beverages by fermenting plants such as barley malt and grapes Most alcoholic beverages by fermenting plants such as barley malt and grapes

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Medicine and materials Source of cotton, wood, paper, linen, vegetable oils, some types of rope, and rubber. Source of cotton, wood, paper, linen, vegetable oils, some types of rope, and rubber. The production of silk - mulberry plant. The production of silk - mulberry plant. Sugarcane, rapeseed, soy and other plants with a highly fermentable sugar or oil content - as sources of biofuels, which are important alternatives to fossil fuels, - biodiesel. Sugarcane, rapeseed, soy and other plants with a highly fermentable sugar or oil content - as sources of biofuels, which are important alternatives to fossil fuels, - biodiesel.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Environmental changes Understanding habitat destruction and species extinction is dependent on an accurate and complete catalog of plant systematics and taxonomy. Understanding habitat destruction and species extinction is dependent on an accurate and complete catalog of plant systematics and taxonomy. Plant responses to ultraviolet radiation can help us monitor problems like the ozone depletion. Plant responses to ultraviolet radiation can help us monitor problems like the ozone depletion. Analyzing pollen deposited by plants thousands or millions of years ago can help scientists to reconstruct past climates and predict future ones, an essential part of climate change research. Analyzing pollen deposited by plants thousands or millions of years ago can help scientists to reconstruct past climates and predict future ones, an essential part of climate change research.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Environmental changes Recording and analyzing the timing of plant life cycles are important parts of phenology used in climate-change research. Recording and analyzing the timing of plant life cycles are important parts of phenology used in climate-change research. Lichens, which are sensitive to atmospheric conditions, have been extensively used as pollution indicators Lichens, which are sensitive to atmospheric conditions, have been extensively used as pollution indicators

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance History

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance History Theophrastus B.C : On the History of Plants (Historia Plantarum) and On the Causes of Plants are two large treatises Theophrastus B.C : On the History of Plants (Historia Plantarum) and On the Causes of Plants are two large treatises Dioscorides provides important evidence on Greek and Roman knowledge of medicinal plants. Dioscorides provides important evidence on Greek and Roman knowledge of medicinal plants.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance History Robert Hooke discovered cells in cork in 1665, using an early microscope Robert Hooke discovered cells in cork in 1665, using an early microscope The German Leonhart Fuchs, the Swiss Conrad von Gesner, and the British authors Nicholas Culpeper and John Gerard published herbals that gave information on the medicinal uses of plants. The German Leonhart Fuchs, the Swiss Conrad von Gesner, and the British authors Nicholas Culpeper and John Gerard published herbals that gave information on the medicinal uses of plants.

Dr.K.KUMARAN Scope and Importance Modern botany Arabidopsis thaliana This weedy species in the mustard family was one of the first plants to have its genome sequenced Arabidopsis thaliana This weedy species in the mustard family was one of the first plants to have its genome sequenced The sequencing of the rice (Oryza sativa) genome The sequencing of the rice (Oryza sativa) genome Another grass species, Brachypodium distachyon is also emerging as an experimental model for understanding the genetic Another grass species, Brachypodium distachyon is also emerging as an experimental model for understanding the genetic Poplars – model tree species taken up for genomic studies Poplars – model tree species taken up for genomic studies

Dr.K.KUMARAN Branches of Botany Taxonomy - identification and classification of plants Taxonomy - identification and classification of plants Plant morphology - external formation Plant morphology - external formation Plant anatomy - internal arrangement Plant anatomy - internal arrangement Plant histology - microscopic examination Plant histology - microscopic examination Plant physiology - functioning and life history Plant physiology - functioning and life history

Dr.K.KUMARAN Branches of Botany Plant ecology - their distribution over the Earth's surface in relation to their surroundings Plant ecology - their distribution over the Earth's surface in relation to their surroundings Palaeobotany concerns the study of fossil plants Palaeobotany concerns the study of fossil plants Economic botany deals with the utility of plants. Economic botany deals with the utility of plants. Horticulture, agriculture, and Forestry Horticulture, agriculture, and Forestry

Dr.K.KUMARAN Plant Life Cycles annuals seed->plant->seed, in one year biennials seed->vegetative plant->flowering plant->seed, in two years seed->vegetative plant->flowering plant->seed, in two yearsperennials herbaceous or woody, live longer than two years

Dr.K.KUMARAN DENDROLOGY

DEFINITION Dendrology is the study of woody plants. These includes trees: erect woody plants usually with one central trunk; shrubs: erect plants with numerous woody stems; and vines: woody plants that require an erect substrate for support. Dendrology is the study of woody plants. These includes trees: erect woody plants usually with one central trunk; shrubs: erect plants with numerous woody stems; and vines: woody plants that require an erect substrate for support.

Dr.K.KUMARAN SCOPE Distinguish woody plants from herbaceous plants Distinguish woody plants from herbaceous plants Distinguish trees from shrubs and vines Distinguish trees from shrubs and vines Use leaf characteristics to identify trees Use leaf characteristics to identify trees Use bark characteristics to identify trees Use bark characteristics to identify trees Distinguish deciduous trees from evergreens Distinguish deciduous trees from evergreens

Dr.K.KUMARAN SCOPE Provide practice reading scientific literature (identification keys) Provide practice reading scientific literature (identification keys) Provide practice in gathering data from observations Provide practice in gathering data from observations Create awareness of the interdependence of living things in the environment Create awareness of the interdependence of living things in the environment Highlight awareness of a forest community Highlight awareness of a forest community Highlight awareness of human dependence on plant life Highlight awareness of human dependence on plant life

Dr.K.KUMARAN TAXONOMY

DEFINITION Taxonomy is the field of biology which deals with the nomenclature, identification, description and classification of organisms. There are over one million known species on Earth and probably several million more not yet identified. Taxonomists are responsible for identifying, naming, and classifying all these different species. Taxonomy is the field of biology which deals with the nomenclature, identification, description and classification of organisms. There are over one million known species on Earth and probably several million more not yet identified. Taxonomists are responsible for identifying, naming, and classifying all these different species.

Dr.K.KUMARAN IMPORTANCE (1) production of an inventory of the world's flora, it is important that we know what is flora, it is important that we know what is out there; out there; (2) production of a classification system that includes all plants, this provides a systematic includes all plants, this provides a systematic organization of the diversity found in plants; organization of the diversity found in plants;

Dr.K.KUMARAN IMPORTANCE (3) an understanding of relationships of plants that can be incorporated into classification that can be incorporated into classification systems, systems, For eg.,if we have a plant that has a For eg.,if we have a plant that has a useful characteristic, a classification useful characteristic, a classification system can provide information that may system can provide information that may lead to the discovery of related plants with lead to the discovery of related plants with similar characteristics; similar characteristics;

Dr.K.KUMARAN IMPORTANCE (4) provide universal rules and regulations regarding the naming of plants, which is regarding the naming of plants, which is critical to identification and communication. critical to identification and communication. Of course, this knowledge of plants can be Of course, this knowledge of plants can be used for economic purposes, such as used for economic purposes, such as finding plants that are new and better finding plants that are new and better sources of food, shelter, clothes, medicine, sources of food, shelter, clothes, medicine, etc. etc.

Dr.K.KUMARAN