Plant Anatomy and Economic Botany

The field of applied science, dealing with the practical or economic aspects of a subject, lends itself much better to such treatment than does the field of pure science. This is particularly true of botany. From earliest time plants have been intimately bound up with human existence. Not only have they played an important part in the everyday life of mankind, but they have had a profound influence on the course of history and civilization. A knowledge of the industrial, medicinal, and edible plants cannot fail to broaden one’s outlook. Economic botany is the study of the relationship between people (individuals and cultures) and plants. Economic botany contributes significantly to many fields, including established disciplines such as agronomy, anthropology, archaeology, chemistry, economics, ethnobotany, ethnology, forestry, genetic resources, geography, geology, horticulture, medicine, microbiology, nutrition, pharmacognosy, and pharmacology. This link between botany and anthropology explores the ways humans use plants for food, shelter, medicines, textiles, and more. The average man is likely to consider himself as a being apart from the rest of the organic world, enabled by reason of hi:-; superior intellect to lead a self-sufficient and independent existence. He loses sight of the fact, or is ignorant of it, that he is absolutely dependent on other organisms for his very life, and his material happiness as well. His superior intelligence has made him more dependent rather than less so. Although various animal and mineral products contribute to his welfare, it is the plant kingdom that is most essential to man’s well-being. Man’s dependence on plants for the essentials of his existence has been of paramount importance in his life since the human race began. Human race cannot imagine to sustain in this world without plants. Plants have role in each and every aspect of human life. Besides photosynthesis and being a basic source of oxygen on the planet Earth, we need plants for food and feed, clothing, housing, medicinal and many more functions of basic human and animal sustenance. To the extent, that not very long ago the plants and grains were the basis for trade and economy of the world. In simple words, Economic botany is the interaction of human race with plants for sustainable solutions for some of their most pressing functions. It...