The father of botany is Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and scientist.
Here’s a explanation:
- Who he was:
Theophrastus (around 371–287 BCE) was a student of Aristotle. He was very interested in studying plants and is known as the first person to organize and describe them scientifically. - His major works:
He wrote two famous books — “Enquiry into Plants” and “On the Causes of Plants.”
These books described how plants grow, reproduce, and are used by humans. - His contributions:
- Classified plants based on their form, structure, and life cycle.
- Studied plant reproduction, growth, and the effects of climate and soil.
- Recorded the uses of plants for food, medicine, and other purposes.
- Why he is called the father of botany:
Because he was the first to study plants in a systematic and scientific way, laying the foundation for modern plant science (botany).
In short, Theophrastus is called the Father of Botany because he began the scientific study and classification of plants more than 2,000 years ago.