Botany has several branches which deal with the different aspects of plants. They are called botanical sciences. Some of the more important botanical sciences are given below:
1. Morphology (Gk. Morphe-form, logos-study). Plants morphology or phytomorphology is the study of form and structure of plants. It is divided into two branches:
a) External Morphology. It deals with the external form, structure and relative position of plants organs. Some authors consider it as equivalent to morphology.
b) Internal Morphology. The study of internal structure of plants is called internal morphology. It is further divided into the following sub-branches:
(i) Anatomy (Gk. Ana-up, tome-cutting). It is the study of internal structure which can be seen with the naked eye after dissection. In plants, however, the unaided or naked eye cannot see much of the internal structure. Therefore, anatomy is generally regarded as equivalent to histology.
(ii) Histology (Gk. histos-tissues, logos-study). It is the study of tissue or details or internal structure by means of microscope. As remarked earlier, it is commonly thought to be equivalent to anatomy.
(iii) Cytology (Gk. Kytos-cells, logos-study). The study of form, structure and functions of cells, including the behavior of nucleus and other organelles, is called cytology.
2. Physiology (Gk. Physis-nature or functioning, logos-study). Physiology is the study of all types of body pathology.
3. Embryology (Gk. Embryo-embryo, logos-study). The study of early development of plants from fertilized eggs is known as embryology.
4. Plants Pathology (Gk. Pathos-suffering, logos-study; phyto-pathology). The study of various plants diseases (including diagnosis, causes, prevention and cure) is called plants pathology.
5. Plants Ecology (Gk. Oikos-place of living, logos-study). It is the study of reciprocal influence of external conditions or environment over the plants and adaptations shown by the plants to adjust themselves according to that environment.
6. Taxonomy or systematic Botany (Gk. taxis-arrangement, nomos-law). It is the study of identification, naming and classification or arrangement to the plants into group.
7. Economic or Applied Botany. It deals with the study of those plants which have some economic importance to human beings. The remaining branches of botany are collectively called pure botany. Economic botany has many sub-branches:
(a) Forestry. It includes the study of forest trees, silviculture (cultivation of forest trees), forest management and forest products.
(b) Horticulture. This branch includes the study of garden and orchards plants.
(c) Floriculture. It is the study of plants grown for their flowers.
(d) Agriculture. It is the science of farming or cultivating land for raising crop plants. Agriculture includes (raising and managing field crops), olericulture (raising and managing vegetables), soil management, crop improvement and protection of crops against posts, etc.
(e) Pharmacognosy. It is the branch of botany connected with the knowledge and use of medicine plants.
(f) Plants Breeding. It is the branch which takes care of raising plants for higher yield and better quality.
8. Palaeobotany (Gk. Palaios-ancient, botane-plants). It deals with study of plants fossils or remains of past plants found in the rocks of different ages.
9. Plants Geography. It is the study of distribution of plants in the different parts of the earth.
10. Genetics. It is the science which deals with variations and inheritance of characters from parents to their offspring.
11. Organic Evolution (L. e-out, volva-roll= to unroll). It deals with the origin of newer types of organisms from the previous types by modifications.
12. Some other Branches. According to the groups of plants, botany can be divided into
a. Algology (phycology) or the study of algae;
b. Mycology or the science of fungi;
c. Bacteriology or the study of bacteria;
d. Bryology or the study of bryophytes;
e. Pteridology or the science of pteridophytes;
f. Palynology or the study of pollen grains, etc.
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