Why are Plants Important to Humans/Ethnobotany?
Plants provide essential resources needed for human life; food, medicine, oxygen, and materials for building, clothing, and other needs. In addition, plants help regulate the enviornment by cleaning the air and stabilizing the soil. Ethnobotany is the study of how different cultures use plants and helps us learn from traditional knowledge about plants and their uses. With this knowledge, we can improve health, agriculture, and conservation.
Importance of Plant Blindness/Awareness & Disparity
Plant blindess is the inability to notice/appreciate plants in our enviornment. This often leads to neglect and awareness of plant importance in education and daily lives. Resulting in Plant awareness helps us understand the value of plants in our daily lives, like how they provide food, medicine, oxygen, and beauty. Being more aware of the values plants have to offer, we can make better choices in protecting the enviornment/using plant resources wisely. Plant disparity refers to the differences in how plants are distributed across regions/cultures. Some plants may be abundant in one area, and scarce in another. Understanding this aspect allows us to address issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability.Â
4 Major Plant Classifications
Bryophytes
Non-vascular plant; lacks specialized tissue for transporting water/nutrients. Reproduce through SPORES, not seeds.
Ferns
Vascular plant that reproduces through SPORES, not seeds. Has leaves called fronds, lacks flowers/seeds.
Gymnosperms
Seed producing plant that does NOT have flowers. Produces seeds exposed in CONES.
Angiosperms
Flowering plant that produces seeds enclosed in FRUIT. Largest group of plants and include a wide variety of species.