BACK TO THE LAND'S  

Ways to Survival or Self Efficiency

---

 

BOTANY BASICS Submitted By  John DeAngelo BOTANY BASICS "The proof of evolution lies in those adaptations that arise from improbable foundations." Steven J. Gould A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF BOTANY can help us to understand organic gardening, and how plants function.  Botany is a branch of biology that deals with plant life.  Botany is the science of plants - the collecting plants for the study of plant life - the biology of a plant or plant group. THE PLANT KINGDOM  is one of the five kingdoms that are used to classify all living things. The plant kingdom PLANTAE is divided into progressively smaller groups. THE MOST BASIC DIVISION is between vascular and non-vascular plants: NON-VASCULAR:  the more primitive plants such as mosses lack conductive tissue for circulation of water and nutrients. These reproduce by roots, shoots or spores. and VASCULAR:   plants include both flowering and non-flowering plants the vast majority reproducing by seeds. VASCULAR PLANTS THAT BEAR SEED are divided into two groups: GYMNOSPERM  (produce naked seeds that are only partially enclosed by tissues – conifers being the largest family). or ANGIOSPERM (produce a covered seed in an ovary a protected chamber that forms part of the fruit). FLOWERING PLANTS are divided into two forms: DICOT: which have 2 seed leaves, a network of veins on the foliage and flower parts in multiples of 4, 5, 7, or more, and MONOCOT:  which have a single seed leaf with the veins running parallel. The flower parts are arranged in threes. THERE ARE THREE TYPES of flowering plants: MONOECIOUS:   the flowers are either male of female, but borne on the same plant. DIOECIOUS:   the male and female flowers are on separate plants. BISEXUAL (hermaphrodite):   each flower contains both male and female organs. PLANTS HAVE three types of life spans: ANNUAL: completing their life cycle in one season of growth. BIANNUAL: living two seasons – the first - storing food, the second - flowering, fruiting, and dying. PERENNIAL: living for many seasons. PERENNIALS are divided into two groups: HERBACEOUS: soft stemmed perennials that die back to the ground in winter and grow again in the spring. WOODY: trees and shrubs – perennials that lose their foliage, but retain their stems and grow foliage again in the spring. PLANTS HAVE TWO two types of root systems: TAPROOT: one main root going deep into the ground. FIBEROUS: these have a complex root system spreading from the base of the plant. PLANT LEAVES have two functions: PHOTOSYNTHESIS:   a chemical reaction to produce sugar in the form of glucose from carbon dioxide (C02) and water (H20). Glucose allows for the production of cellulose, and starch (a later supply of energy that is stored in the plant’s cells). The first leaves gather energy from sunlight, which is necessary for Photosynthesis. TRANSPIRATION:  a process that carries minerals to leaves where oxygen and water vapor escape through the stomata. "Every individual alive today, the highest as well as the lowest, is derived in an unbroken line from the first and lowest forms." August Frederick Leopold Weismann Article  Submitted By  John DeAngelo John DeAngelo  studied agriculture , horticulture and botony at Virginia Tech and currently lives and works in the New River Valley . Questions or Comments? floydcountyinview@yahoo.com   back to top return to back to the land page Floyd County In View's "Back to the Land" Series ©floydcountyinview.com    Disclaimer Note: Reader contributed articles are published here as submitted and as entertainment information.  FCIV does not pay for any submitted material. Floyd County In View publishes pertinent reader contributed content if the content appears to be interesting without verifying the veracity of the content or viability of the information . Floyd County In View is held safe from all liability or responsibilty in anyway or manner and takes no responsibility in confirming either the information submitted nor in the sources of the contributed content. If attempting any suggestions offered in these accounts you do so at your own risk. Questions or Comments? floydcountyinview@yahoo.com   Return To Previous Page   Back to top Back to Main Page     Copyright © 2000-2008 floydcountyinview.com

Return To Previous Page

 

Back to top

Back to Main Page

TO CONTACT US: Floyd County In View

---

Published by CountryView Studios Publishing Co.- Floyd,Va.24091

All rights, trademarks, copyrights reserved 

Copyright ©  -  floydcountyinview.com - no part of this on line publication may be reproduced, printed, reprinted, downloaded, copied or reproduced digitally or electronically in any form without the express consent of the publisher and/or authors/writers/photographers.
FAIR USE NOTICE:
This site may, at times, contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any included information is for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Homesteader's Notes Copyright © & ™ 2007-Onward - floydcountyinview.com - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.