ABSTRACT
Botany is ‘‘the scientific study of plants, including their anatomy, morphology, physiology, biochemistry, taxonomy, cytology, genetics, evolution, and geographical distribution’’ (Oxford Dictionary of Biology, 4th ed., 2000). In this chapter, the terms botany and plant biology will be used interchangeably. In practice, botany may carry the connotation of taxonomic studies, while plant biology is often the preferred ‘‘modern’’ term for the entire field.
