Classical Botany in the Shadow of Molecular Science: Why It Still Matters
The Decline of Classical Botany
Though many of us may recognize the word ‘botany’, we may also associate it with dusty books and 18th century science. ‘Botany’ is not used frequently in our vocabulary. The origins of the word are likely Greek, from botane (meaning plant or herb) and dates to Homer’s the Iliad in the 8th century BCE. Following this point in 300 BCE, the father of botany, Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, is thought to have laid the foundations for the classification of organisms and documentation of their morphologies and use. It is worth noting that the practice likely dates to far earlier than this, with written manuals for the use of herbs in medicine dating back to 3000 BCE discovered in Mesopotamia and China.
Carl Linnaeus, in the 18th century, known as the founder of taxonomy, then went on to classify plants into the binomial system we use to this day. Our understanding of plants has developed since, widening to include their relationships within their ecosystem, developing the discipline of ecology in the 19th century. As well as broadening our peripheral perspective on plants, botany has since seen the advent of scientific reductionism. This sees complex systems understood by breaking them down into smaller components, hence the rise of the molecular sciences. Hereupon the DNA-based taxonomy system has been introduced with arguments arising that it renders classical botany redundant (Hajibabaei et al., 2007).
It is not simply the practice but the material that is at risk of decline. Botanical gardens are used for the conservation and study of the diversity of plants. Though the collections are preserved with the aim to maintain biodiversity, these do not reflect the biodiversity in natural ecosystems according to Pautasso & Parmentier, (2007). More funding is required to promote the formation of botanical gardens in species-rich regions and underfunded countries (Chen & Sun, 2018). With the increasing risk of losing the diversity of species globally, acknowledged in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, where the goal is to preserve 70% of the threatened plant population, it is counterintuitive to regress in training new generations in classical botany (Callmander et al., 2005).
Consequences of the Shift
The preference for molecular biology over classical botany has brought significant changes in plant science. On one hand, molecular techniques have deepened our understanding of plant genomes, biochemical pathways and cell function. This also has produced notable gaps in scientific and societal perspectives on plants. The major consequence is the decline in the number of experts related to plant taxonomy and morphology. Increased attention on the molecular practices inside the laboratory has decreased the number of researchers working in the field and observing plants in their natural environment. One of the consequences is that the number of new plants being identified has been decreasing recently (Christenhusz et al 2016).
Why Classical Botany Still Matters
The study of classical botany continues to hold a vital role in our society, even though its significance is often overshadowed by the advancements of molecular biology. Despite the progress of modern science, classical botany remains indispensable for biodiversity conservation, agriculture, and ecological understanding.
One of the key areas where classical botany proves its importance is biodiversity conservation. Accurate plant identification is crucial for protecting endangered species and habitats, as well as for tracking plant populations and understanding their roles within ecosystems. This basic knowledge allows conservationists to prioritize areas for protection, develop strategies for habitat restoration, and monitor the impacts of environmental changes. Furthermore, classical botany contributes to understanding species interactions, such as pollination and seed dispersal, which are vital for ecosystem stability (Heywood, 2017).
In agriculture, crop breeding heavily relies on classical botany to understand plant physiology and adaptation. Traditional methods play a central role in identifying wild relatives of cultivated crops, which are critical for genetic improvement and for developing resilience to environmental changes. Furthermore, classical botany is essential for studying plant responses to shifting climatic conditions, providing insights that inform both conservation and agricultural practices (Diederichsen & McVetty, 2011).
Different strategies can be implemented by botanists to create historical records of plant life. Herbaria, a collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study, provide valuable clues about how plants have evolved in response to climate change. These collections serve as reliable sources for tracking climate-driven phenological changes and offer important insights into the mechanisms plants use to adapt (Davis et al., 2015). A notable example was highlighted by Calinger et al. (2013), who analysed herbarium specimens alongside historical temperature data. They discovered that for every degree Celsius increase in temperature, plants in North America flowered an average of 2.4 days earlier. This phenological shift can have a direct impact on interactions with surrounding pollinators.
Advocating for an Integrated Approach
To advance plant science, it is important to combine molecular botany with classical botany. While molecular tools provide precision, classical botany gives a holistic perspective on plants. Combining both can be very effective in addressing biodiversity loss and conservation. A balanced skill is needed which can be achieved by blending plant identification, herbarium work and field ecology with molecular methods in education (Davis et al 2015). Accessing species genetic diversity and identification can be improved by adding DNA barcoding with traditional plant taxonomy (Hajibabaei et al 2007). In addition, citizen science initiatives and public outreach activities can help raise awareness about the importance of botany. All together, combining classical botany with molecular approaches would be pivotal in addressing urgent global challenges.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, classical botany remains an essential pillar of scientific inquiry and practical application, providing the foundational knowledge needed to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, such as biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable agriculture. While molecular science is necessary, it cannot replace classical botany and there has to be a blending of both to address global challenges.
References:
Calinger, K. M., Queenborough, S., & Curtis, P. S. (2013). Herbarium specimens reveal the footprint of climate change on flowering trends across north-central North America. Ecology Letters, 16(8), 1037–1044. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12135
Callmander, M. W., Schatz, G. E., & Lowry, P. P. (2005). IUCN Red List assessment and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: taxonomists must act now. Taxon, 54(4), 1047-1050.
Chen, G., & Sun, W. (2018). The role of botanical gardens in scientific research, conservation, and citizen science. Plant Diversity, 40(4), 181-188. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2018.07.006
Christenhusz, M. J. M., & Byng, J. W. (2016). The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa, 261(3), 201–217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1
Davis, C. C., Willis, C. G., Connolly, B., Kelly, C., & Ellison, A. M. (2015). Herbarium records are reliable sources of phenological change driven by climate and provide novel insights into species’ phenological cueing mechanisms. American Journal of Botany, 102(10), 1599–1609. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1500237
Diederichsen, A., & McVetty, P. B. E. (2011). Botany and Plant Breeding. In Canola: Chemistry, Production, Processing, and Utilization (pp. 29–56). Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-9818936-5-5.50006-1
Hajibabaei, M., Singer, G. A. C., Hebert, P. D. N., & Hickey, D. A. (2007). DNA barcoding: How it complements taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, and population genetics. Trends in Genetics, 23(4), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2007.02.001
Heywood, V. H. (2017). The future of plant conservation and the role of botanic gardens. In Plant Diversity (Vol. 39, Issue 6, pp. 309–313). KeAi Publishing Communications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2017.12.002
Pautasso, M., & Parmentier, I. (2007). Are the living collections of the world’s botanical gardens following species-richness patterns observed in natural ecosystems? Botanica Helvetica, 117, 15-28.
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About the Authors
Kestrel Maio
Kes is a second-year PhD candidate at the John Innes Centre and a 2025 Plantae Fellows. She is studying the molecular mechanisms underlying how flowers develop their complex shapes, using the model system Arabidopsis thaliana. Her research integrates computational biology with molecular genetics to uncover conserved laws underlying morphogenesis. X: @KestrelMaio | Bluesky: @kesmaio.bsky.social
Carlos González Sanz
Carlos is a biotechnologist doing a PhD at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in Spain and a 2025 Plantae Fellows. His research focuses on understanding the effect of high temperatures in plants on fungal microbiota recruitment and searching for new isolates that help tackle this stress. X: @carlosgonzsanz | Bluesky: @carlosgonzsanz.bsky.social
Ved Prakash
Ved is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Shahideh Nouri’s lab at Kansas State University and a 2025 Plantae Fellows. He is currently screening a large panel of wild wheat relatives for tolerance/resistance against Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and Triticum Mosaic Virus. X: @vedjiwan | Bluesky: @vedjiwan.bsky.social
