CHAPTER VI 

 BOTANY 



INTRODUCTION 



PLANTS depend direcdy on the physical and chemical condidons 

 of their environment, which are included in the sciences con- 

 sidered in the last four chapters. The study of botany is also inti- 

 mately related to the applied sciences of forestry and agriculture. 

 Furthermore, the fact that all animals depend upon a food-chain 

 which contains plant products as its fundamental link renders the 

 study of vegetation a basic necessity in relation to all questions 

 affecting animal nutrition. 



No distinction between pure and applied science can be drawn 

 in the case of biological studies, since a sound knowledge of taxo- 

 nomy, morphology, histology, physiology, ecology, genetics, and 

 kindred subjects is directly relevant to all practical questions. For 

 exam^ple, in studies of the pasture-lands which cover so large a 

 part of Africa, the identification of species and varieties of grasses 

 legumes and other fodder plants cannot be sharply divided from 

 the discrimination of those of value for stock, and the study of 

 conditions under which they increase. Again, in order to under- 

 stand the economic potentialities of rain-forests, studies on the 

 classification of trees, the histology of wood, physiology and forest 

 ecology are indispensable. In this chapter an attempt is made to 

 state the present position in Africa of botanical studies as a basis for 

 economic applications in forestry and agriculture. 



It is convenient, though somxcwhat arbitrary, to divide the results 

 of botanical researches under four headings: (i) Taxonomy, includ- 

 ing the identification and classification of plants; (2) Ecology, or 

 the study of plants in relation to their environment, plant associa- 

 tions, changes in the type of vegetation as a result of activity, 



