Plant science is at the core of human existence, contributing to food security, renewable energy delivery, and mitigating climate change while conserving habitats. The questions for this website were generated in a two-day workshop sponsored by New Phytologist and BBSRC-funded plant science network GARNet and then organized into broad topics.
What is Botany?
Botany, or the study of plants, is one of the oldest natural sciences. Its importance can’t be overstated: plants provide us with oxygen as well as raw materials for food, fuel, fiber production, and cosmetic products—not to mention oxygen itself! Botany helps us understand how organisms form ecosystems and how their environments change over time.
Plants have fascinated humanity since prehistory, when early humans hunted and gathered edible and medicinal plants for consumption and use. Over time, this led to the cultivation of crops, prompting village and civilization development. Because humans have studied plants for so long, there has been an accumulation of folklore, general information, and scientific data that continues to increase our knowledge today.
Modern botanical research encompasses numerous fields, such as plant anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and primary metabolism, genetics and evolution, ecology, systematics, and morphology. Botanical science draws on skills from multiple fields such as geology, chemistry, biology, environmental science, geography, archaeology, and physics – to name only some of its subdisciplines.
Modern botanical science can be traced back to ancient Greece when Aristotle first explored the plants around him more closely and created what we now call botanical classification systems. His student Theophrastus expanded on these works by looking more closely at plant growth patterns and characteristics than Aristotle himself did.
Monasteries began using physic gardens containing medicinal and edible plants during medieval monasticism; these served as precursors to botanical gardens that appeared at universities in 1540. Through efforts to catalog and describe the plants in these gardens, Carl Linnaeus formalized modern botanical language that is still universally used today—known as the binomial system of nomenclature.
Over the centuries, scientists such as Gregor Mendel and Robert Hooke have made other advances in botany – both famed for their discoveries regarding genetic inheritance. Robert Hooke invented the microscope, which allowed scientists to inspect cell and plant structures more closely using this instrument. Botanists now work in greenhouses, forests, gardens, laboratories, and on ocean floors to conserve endangered plant species around the globe.
What is the Scientific Method?
The scientific method is a set of steps designed to assist scientists in creating, testing, and validating theories. It is used in all sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. It is most often applied during scientific research but can also be applied when solving everyday problems like non-functioning toasters—for instance, when power outages occur or your toaster short circuits.
Although the scientific method may seem straightforward, there have been heated discussions regarding its exact steps and effectiveness. Critics contend that its objective claims may not hold water; researchers often incorporate their personal biases into experiments. On the other hand, others assert that the scientific method is an essential way of uncovering truth from fiction in science.
Scientists frequently employ the scientific method to overcome biases related to fear, religion, and power and to avoid errors related to data misinterpretation or interpretation. By employing impartially and replicable experiments, they ensure unbiased experiments that allow results sharing and comparison.
Over time, scientists have battled to define the scientific method. Some have argued that certain characteristics define science; these could include systematic observation and experimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, hypothesis testing, and hypothesis generation. Others view the scientific method as a means of differentiating scientific activity from non-science by employing some canonical form of scientific methodology (see the entry on pseudoscience for more info).
The steps involved in the scientific method can vary between texts but usually include defining a problem, collecting background information, making observations, formulating a hypothesis, testing said hypothesis, and drawing conclusions. Sometimes, communicating the findings to other scientists or the general public may also be required as a final step.
How do I ask a plant question?
People often wonder about plants, and how best to care for them, so Arboretum answers thousands of inquiries annually from callers, visitors, and students participating in its education programs. Quality answers depend on how much information the asker can provide – asking good questions is an essential first step toward learning about plants! If you are concerned about the health of a tree or stump in your yard or whether an unusual sprout might be weeds or perennials failing to bloom correctly, then asking specific questions could provide the information necessary for accurate diagnosis.
The best way to learn about plants is through observation and comparison with similar plants. This will give you clues as to their structure, behavior, and origins—for instance, if a particular plant only grows in open fields, you might begin recognizing patterns such as how it moves across its surroundings, its flower or leaf size, etc.
When asking plant questions, using the scientific method and including a description and photos is crucial. This helps staff and volunteers find clues that will lead them toward diagnosis. Furthermore, knowing your garden soil type and any animals present may assist staff or volunteers with providing additional support if your problem cannot be solved at home. For any issues that cannot be solved at home alone, it may be worthwhile visiting one of our plant clinics for additional support.
How do I solve a plant problem?
As more people begin houseplant care (be it as a hobby or necessity), it is essential to remember that, just like children, plants may occasionally experience problems. Luckily, most issues are easy to address with proper treatments – your plant should quickly return to its previous glory!
If a plant’s leaves are drooping or browning, it could indicate that it is receiving insufficient water. To ensure your plants receive what they require for optimal growth and water consumption, follow the instructions on their tag and group them according to water needs. Browned leaves could also indicate sunburn—tropical plants, in particular, are sensitive to prolonged direct sunlight exposure, so consider propping them up against a rock or stackable plant pole to provide the shade necessary.
Older leaves should gradually turn yellow and fall off a plant as its energy shifts toward producing new growth, but sudden drops of leaves should never happen all at once. If this occurs, check that the soil moisture levels don’t fluctuate excessively or that there are no insects invading its contents—these could all be factors.