It is a science whose objective is the study of the relationship between plant life and the terrestrial environment, but in addition to this it also studies the distribution of plant species in the different territories of the planet, it also analyzes the areas in which it is distributed and its characteristics, as well as the causes that condition them and the laws under which it is subject. Geobotany is also called phytogeography or plant geography.
The term as such comes from the German word Geobotany, and the person responsible for its creation was Rübel who used it for the first time in 1922, looking for a way to synthesize the large number of sciences that comprise this branch of study, such as this is the case of botany, ecology and geography.
This branch of science has close relationships with various areas, with ecology, climatology, soil science and geography being the main ones. On the other hand, the data obtained provide a large amount of important information for the study of meteorology or, failing that, for the pharmaceutical sector. From a slightly more educational perspective, it is possible to establish a relationship between the plant world and the geographical reality of the territories.
Another aspect that should not be overlooked is the fact that the natural environment must also be managed and for this there are already so-called geobotanical reserves, which are in charge of this task. In general, in geobotany investigations, various analyzes are carried out related to the reasons for the distribution of plant species and the properties of the substrate.
In addition to these, the researchers in this discipline carry out studies on the historical reasons that are related to the evolution of plant species, a science called paleogeography. On the other hand, the study of the adaptation to the environment of each plant species is called phytoecology.
Among the most important objectives of geobotany can be mentioned the following
- Study the composition, structure and geographical distribution, both in the quantitative and qualitative aspects.
- He also specializes in function, productivity, biogeochemical cycles.
