Botany is a branch of biology that involves the
scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also includes
the study of fungi, algae and viruses. Botany covers a wide range of
scientific disciplines including structure, growth, reproduction,
metabolism, development, diseases, chemical properties, and
evolutionary relationships among taxonomic groups. Botany began with
early human efforts to identify edible, medicinal and poisonous
plants, making it one of the oldest branches of science. Today
botanists study over 550,000 species of living organisms.
[Adapted from Wikipedia]
