Module 1

Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany

BOTANY o Egyptians
The Plant Biology ➢ Ebers Papyrus – one of the oldest
surviving medical record made by
• Botany comes front the Greek the Egyptians
words ‘botanikos’ (botanical),
‘botane’ (plant/grass/herb), and o Greeks – pioneered the definite
‘boskein’ (to feed), and the French expression of Plant Science’s problems &
word ‘botanique’ (botanical). principles for practical reasons.
• It is simply defined as the scientific
study of plants, which includes its ➢ The Ancient Greeks
structure and function, physiology,
classification, origin and evolution, • Aristotle (384 – 322 BC)
diseases, and interaction with the - studied the “nature” of plants
environment. - 1st man to become familiar w/ wide range
• Plants can be defined in many ways of biological facts
– from a multicellular eukaryotic
living thing to a member of Kingdom •Theophrastus (371 – 287 BC)
Plantae, to an organism that can Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus
produce their own food, to an von Hohenheim
organism that has rigid walls, to a - Father of Botany
living thing that has roots, stems, - History of Plants – classification of crude
and leaves and so on. plants into flowering (Phanerogams) and
non-flowering (Cryptogams)
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Observation • Crateuas (1st Century BC)
2. Question -Father of Botanical Illustrations
3. Hypothesis - Rhyzotomist (root cutter/herb gatherer)
4. Experiment - Made the first illustrated herbals and the
5. Analysis oldest treaties on Pharmacology
6. Conclusion
• Pliny the Elder (23 – 79 AD)
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION Caius Plinius Secundus
-Natural History (37 volumes) – description
Ancient Period of the biological, medicinal and agricultural
o Primitive men can distinguish aspects of plants
edible from poisonous plants -First to use the word “stamen”
through a system of trial and error
that is passed on from one
generation to the next.
Module 1
Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany
➢ The Ancient Romans - Herbarium of Life-like Images in Imitation
of Nature (Herbarum vivae eicones ad
o Pedanios Dioscorides (62 – 128 AD) naturae imitationem) – collection of original
- Studied the medicinal values of plants detailed and realistic representation of
- De Materia Medica – description of live plants
medicinal properties of about 600 plant Illustrator: Hans Weiditz
species.
• Gaspard Bauhin (1560-1624)
Medieval – Renaissance Period - Phytopinax – description & classification of
o 16th to 17th century Botanists explore plants by drawing comparisons to the later
plants primarily for their curative qualities binomial nomenclature of Linnaeus
focusing on Plant classification. New books - Illustrated Exposition of Plants (Pinax
were easily printed and distributed due to theatri botanici) – description &
invention of printing presses and classification of about 6,000 plant species
advancement in navigation. using traditional grouping.
o HERBALS – chief botanical books
containing descriptions and drawing/wood- Modern Period
cut illustrations of plants o Explorations of the 18th century led to the
discovery of thousands of new plants and
➢ The German Herbalists facts of plant life was divorced from
superstition, folklore, and mythology
• Heironymus Bock (1498 – 1554)
- One of the 3 German Fathers of Botany ➢ The 18th Century Italian Botanist
- Began the transition from medieval the • Andrea Cesalpino (1519-1603)
modern scientific botany thru his books and - De Plantis Libri XVI – classification of plants
his own system of classifying plants according to their fruits and seeds without
- Plant Book (Kreutterbuch) – classification Illustrations
of about 700 plants by arranging it by their
relation or resemblance ➢ The 18th Century Swedish Botanist
• Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778)
• Leonhard Fuchs (1501 – 1566) Carl von Linne
- One of the 3 German Fathers of Botany - Father of Modern Taxonomy
- Notable Commentaries on the History of - The Species of Plants (Species Plantarum)
Plants (De historia stirpium commentarii – classification of all plants known at that
insignes) – description of 497 plants & time according to the binomial system
illustrated over 500 superb woodcuts based
on first-hand observation ➢ The 18th Century French Botanist
• A.L. De Jussieu (1748-1836)
• Otto Brunfels (1488 – 1534) Antoine Laurent de Jussieu
- One of the 3 German Fathers of Botany - Genera of Plants Arranged According to
Their Natural Orders, Based on the Method
Module 1
Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany
Devised in the Royal Garden of Paris in the IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS
Year 1774 (Genera Plantarum Secundum • Plants are fundamental source of food.
Ordines Naturales Disposita, Juxta • Plants can provide shelter and fuel.
methodum in Horto Regio Parisiensi • Plants can be made into clothing,
Exaratam, Anno 1774) accessories, and cosmetics.
• Plants serve aesthetic purposes to the
o In the 19th century, the theory of organic environment.
evolution prepared the way for a natural • Plants help conserve biodiversity.
system of classification wherein plants • Plants serve as buffers to climate change.
related to one another through a common • Plants can be used and developed into
ancestry are grouped together. medicines.

➢ The 19th Century English Naturalist 10 DOH Approved Medicinal Plants

• Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Charles Robert Darwin 1. Akapulko (Cassia alata)
- The Origin of Species a. Other Names: Bayabas- bayabasan,
- Simulated interests in reconstructing the Ringworm bush
family tree/phylogeny of plant kingdom b. Therapeutic Class: Anti-fungal
- Introduced the scientific theory of natural c. Part Used: Leaves
selection d. Uses: Helps treat skin fungal infections,
- Led to a more intensive study of the laws specifically, ringworm.
of variation and inheritance (encouraged by 2. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)
the discovery of Mendel's Laws of a. Other Names: Bitter melon or bitter gourd
Inheritance) b. Therapeutic Class: Antidiabetic
c. Part Used: Leaves and fruit
➢ The 19th Century Austrian Scientist d. Uses: Lowers down blood glucose or
• Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) blood sugar concentration. Helps treat
Gregor Johann Mendel diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, coughs,
- Father of Genetics burns, and scald.
-Mendel’s Law of Inheritance – 3. Bawang (Allium sativum)
experimented on pea plant which led to the a. Other Names: Garlic
recognition of the mathematical pattern of b. Therapeutic Class: Antihyperlipidemic/
inheritance from one generation to the Antihypertensive
next. c. Part Used: cloves
d. Uses: used in the treatment of
o Modern botany is concerned with the hypertension. Lowers down blood
plant not as a static structure to be cut up, cholesterol concentration. Treatment for
picked apart, and described, toothache.
but as a dynamic, responsive, living system 4. Bayabas (Psidium guajava)
– functioning, growing, and reproducing a. Other Names: Guava
itself. b. Therapeutic Class: Antiseptic
Module 1
Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany
c. Part Used: Leaves CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS
d. Uses: Helpful in wound healing, • Plants are highly organized.
mouthwash, tooth decay, and infections. • Plants take in (Photosynthesis) and use
5. Lagundi (Vitex negundo) energy (Cellular Respiration).
a. Other Names: Five -leaved chaste tree • Plants respond to stimuli.
b. Therapeutic Class: Antitussive ➢ Phototropism – response to light
c. Part Used: Leaves ➢ Geotropism – response to gravity
d. Uses: Helps treat dry coughs, colds, and ➢ Hydrotropism – response to water
fever. Also relieves asthma. ➢ Thigmotropism – response to touch
6. Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica) • Plants grow and develop.
a. Other Names: Chinese honey suckle • Plants are capable of reproduction.
b. Therapeutic Class: Anthelminthic ➢ Sexual – requires the union of two
c. Part Used: Seeds gametes (male and female)
d. Uses: Used to eliminate intestinal worms. ➢ Asexual – does not require the
7. Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) union of two gametes (male and
a. Other Names: Blumea camphora female)
b. Therapeutic Class: Anti -urolithiasis • Plants adapt to their environment.
c. Part Used: Leaves ➢ Adaptation – changes a plant
d. Uses: diuretic and used used in the undergoes to survive a certain
excretion of urinary stones environment
8. Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla / ➢ Evolution – adaptation that occurs
Carmona retusa) over a long period of time
a. Other Names: Forest tea or Wild tea
b. Therapeutic Class: Antidiarrheal CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
c. Part Used: Leaves
d. Uses: Treatment of diarrhea and corrects
intestinal motility.
9. Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia pellucida)
a. Other Names: Silver bush, shiny bush
b. Therapeutic Class: Antihyperuricemic
c. Part Used: Leaves
d. Uses: Effective in the treatment of gout
and arthritis. Lowers uric acid
10. Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii /
Mentha cordifelia)
a. Other Names: Peppermint
b. Therapeutic Class: Analgesic/ Antipyretic Example:
c. Part Used: Leaves Classification of Corn
d. Uses: Relieves body aches, pain, • Domain: Eukarya
menstrual cramps, rheumatism. Antipyretic • Kingdom: Plantae
- lowers fever. • Phylum: Anthophyta
Module 1
Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany
• Class: Monocotyledones The Binomial System
• Order: Commelinales - Carolus Linnaeus
• Family: Poaceae - Should be italicized and the first
• Genus: Zea letter of the first word should be in
• Species: Zea mays capital letter. If not italicized, can be
written with by underlining each
The 3 Domains word.

The 6 Kingdoms

FIELDS OF BOTANY

The Subsciences of Botany

• Taxonomy – scientific study of
classification and nomenclature of living
things
• Morphology – scientific study of forms
and structure of living things
Multicellular • Physiology – scientific study of
✓ Plantae- has cell wall (cellulose) mechanisms and functions of living things
✓ Animalia- no cell wall
✓ Fungi- has cell wall (chitin) Disciplines of Botany
Unicellular • Plant ecology – study of the distribution
✓ Eubacteria and abundance of plants, including their
✓ Protista interaction with the environment
✓ Archaebacteria • Phytogeography – study of the geographic
distribution and influence of plants on
earth’s surface
Module 1
Introduction to Botany:
Basic Concepts to Understand Botany
• Paleobotany – study of the biology and
evolution of plants
• Economic botany – study if the interaction
of people and plants
• Forestry – study of the management of
natural resources form forests and lands
• Pharmacology – study of the mode of
action of drugs
• Agriculture – study of cultivating plants
and livestock
• Soil Science – study of soil
• Agronomy – technology of producing and
using plants
• Horticulture – study of garden cultivation
and management
• Plant Pathology – study of causes and
control of plant diseases