What Is a Scientist Who Studies Plants Called? (2024)

A botanist is a scientist who studies or experiments with plants. These plants may include a range of organisms, including flowers, trees and algae. Botanists are a type of biologist.

Plant Biologists

Plant biologists are botanists who directly study the plants themselves. Some work to understand plant genetics, while others examine plant anatomy, the structures of the plants, or plant ecology, how the plants affect the organisms and area around the plants' natural growing area.

Applied Plant Scientists

Applied plant scientists look at how plants can be used in industries and everyday life. An agronomist uses knowledge of how plants grow to improve farming, while a food scientist looks at how to use plants as food products.

By Organism

There are also botanists who choose to specialize in one group of plant, such as the lichenologists, who study lichens. These scientists can be further distinguished by the specific types of plants studied within the group. For example, there are botanists who study algae in general, but also botanists who study only algae found in oceans.

What Is a Scientist Who Studies Plants Called? (2024)

FAQs

What Is a Scientist Who Studies Plants Called? ›

A botanist is a scientist who specializes in plant biology, and is an expert on varieties of vegetation including, algae, grass, cacti, flowers, moss, trees, shrubs and edibles, including herbs, fruits and vegetables. Unlike landscapers and gardeners who arrange, grow and care for plants, botanists research them.

What scientist studies plants? ›

A scientist who studies plants is called a botanist or a plant biologist. Botanists study the biology, structure, function, genetics, ecology, distribution, and classification of plants, while plant biologists may also focus on the molecular and biochemical processes of plants.

What do you call a person who studies plants? ›

Botanists are scientists who study plants. They are also known as plant scientists, plant biologists or 'phytologists'.

What do you call a person who specializes in the study of plants? ›

A botanist is a scientist who studies plants, such as algae, conifers and ferns. They study many areas of plants, including their genetics, physical structures and distribution. Many botanists specialize in an area of botany, such as ecology, which is the study of the relationship between plants and their environment.

What is the difference between a horticulturist and a botanist? ›

Botanists are theorists who prefer working on the science of plants. Horticulturists make their changes to the plants themselves, working on breeding crop rotation and cultivation. Botanists usually make their changes to the genetics of the plants using laboratory techniques to make changes.

What is the difference between a herbalist and a botanist? ›

Herbology is the study of plants and plant lore. Botanists typically collect and identify different species of plant in order to make potions and remedies, and their compilations are known as 'herbals'.

Do biologists study plants? ›

Biologists study humans, plants, animals, and the environments in which they live. They may conduct their studies--human medical research, plant research, animal research, environmental system research--at the cellular level or the ecosystem level or anywhere in between.

What is a phytologist? ›

Definitions of phytologist. a biologist specializing in the study of plants. synonyms: botanist, plant scientist.

What is the difference between a horticulturist and a gardener? ›

Gardening and horticulture are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference, although the two are interconnected. Gardening is the practice of growing and Horticulture is the science of growing. As gardeners, we use horticulture findings to successfully grow our plants.

Is botany a good career? ›

Botany is the ultimate career path for plant-passionate people. A career in botany or one of its associated fields can offer untold benefits, including fantastic earning potential and the opportunity to improve life for our neighbors.

Which is the fastest growing plant? ›

Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth. In fact, the Chinese moso bamboo can grow almost a metre in a single day. Bamboo grows in dense forests where little light reaches the ground and there is strong evolutionary pressure to reach the sunlight as quickly as possible.

What job is the study of plants? ›

The field of botany is concerned with classifying plants and identifying them, from moss, algae, and lichens to aquatic plants and more. Some careers in botany are based on research and the discovery of new vegetation. Job roles in botany include: Botanist.

Who is considered the father of botany? ›

Theophrastus, a Greek naturalist is known as the Father of Botany, the Father of Zoology, and the Father of Embryology. Botany deals with the study of plants and their characteristics.

What is the highest salary for horticulturist? ›

Horticulturist salary in India ranges between ₹ 2.0 Lakhs to ₹ 8.4 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 5.2 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 889 latest salaries received from Horticulturists.

What are 3 occupations that would fall under horticulture? ›

A horticulture degree can lead to careers in plant breeding, genetic engineering, landscape design, farming, floral design, research, nursery production, education, food science, landscape construction and management, pest control, marketing — the list goes on.

Can you call yourself a horticulturist without a degree? ›

When it comes to a degree to be a horticulturist, in most cases some type of appropriate bachelor's degree is required, according to Environmental Science. The one exception is if a horticulturist is to be engaged in landscaping work.

What scientist studies plants and animals? ›

The scientists who study them are known as biologists.

Is a botanist a scientist who studies plants? ›

Botanists are scientists who learn about plant structure, function, classification and evolution and how plants fit into their ecosystem. They investigate the impact of plants in particular ecosystems to understand better how nature operates in these areas.

What is the study of growing plants? ›

Horticulture is the science, technology, art, and business of cultivating and using plants to improve human life.

Can a botanist work for NASA? ›

NASA Job Title Examples:

Biological Sciences. Microbiology. Botanist. Plant Physiologist.

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