What Is a Plant, Anyway? Plants are amazing. They come in a dizzying array of forms and can be found in virtually all regions of our planet. Plants belong to the kingdom Plantae and represent one of the primary multicellular life forms on earth. Many, like mosses, ferns, trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbs, are quite familiar organisms that we encounter most every day. Others such as green algae, cycads, and liverworts are a bit more unusual. In fact, it's the overall composition of plants that help characterize the majority of different habitat types such as grassland, forest, desert, and savannah. Compared to animals, plants certainly look quite different. They can be distinguished from animals in several important ways.
Plants produce their own food and are unable to move from one place to another on their own; their cells have walls; and most possess roots, stems, and leaves. Another common feature of plants is their general overall green color. This last quality may be one of the most important because it is critical to life on earth. The color comes from chlorophyll , a green pigment found within chloroplasts . These are specialized organelles in plant cells that carry out the process of photosynthesis . During photosynthesis, light energy from the sun, water taken up by roots, and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are used to fuel a chemical reaction that results in the production of sugar (glucose) and oxygen. Plants use the sugar as food to grow and store any surplus. This energy-rich resource provides food for other organisms like animals that are unable to produce their own food.
The resulting oxygen that plants release into the atmosphere is essential for life on earth, as most living things, including humans, need oxygen to survive. Botany is the study of plants. It is a large scientific field that makes contributions to ecology, genetics, physiology, taxonomy, evolution, molecular biology, agriculture, medicine, conservation, and biodiversity. People who study plants are called botanists , and they work in laboratories and out in nature. They study the function of plants, identify new species, and uncover the evolutionary relationships between species. They help ensure safe and sustainable food production; identify, understand, and fight plant pests and diseases; restore ecosystems; study fossils and reconstructions of past environments; and do many other very useful things. They even help conserve rare and endangered species. Of course, you don't need to have a college degree to enjoy or study plants.
Anyone can learn about plants and even collect valuable scientific information or make new discoveries. Today, there are many opportunities for citizen scientists--members of the general public--to help collect data and contribute to science. No matter if you live in the city or out in the country, there are many citizen science programs available, and kids can participate too! Citizen scientists can help track invasive species, identify new plant populations, and even help understand how our changing climate affects plant timing.