Plants are the largest group of organisms on Earth. They are photosynthetic and make most of the oxygen in our atmosphere, converting carbon dioxide and water into sugars and other organic molecules that fuel other organisms, including ourselves.

They also provide fiber for making cloth, brooms, paper and other materials. Plants are vital to human life as sources of food, medicine and energy.

Food

A plant-based diet is one that focuses on eating high-quality whole foods. It includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts. A well-planned diet based on these foods can help prevent chronic disease and support optimal health. It can also reduce cancer risk, as well as heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions.

Plants provide all of the essential nutrients needed for human survival. They convert solar energy into food through photosynthesis. They provide proteins, carbohydrates and fats to organisms, including humans, that feed on them. Animals in turn feed on plants. Animal products can contain saturated and trans fats, which raise cholesterol and triglycerides levels and clog the arteries over time. They may also contain excessive salt, which increases blood pressure. Plant-based foods, on the other hand, are low in fat and sodium.

According to research, a diet based on mostly plants may reduce the risk for obesity and many diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and some mental health illnesses. Plant-based diets should be well-planned to ensure a good intake of nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, calcium and iron. It is important to avoid processed and sugary foods.

A diet that is primarily plant-based can still be rich in flavor and satisfying. The key is to fill two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts. Add a source of lean protein and some dairy and you have a balanced meal. In addition to reducing your cancer risk, a plant-based diet can also improve your overall health by decreasing inflammation in the body. This inflammation can be caused by a variety of things, such as pollution, stress, processed food, bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants and phytochemicals found in plant foods help to neutralize these toxins, as well as reduce the inflammation that results.

Shelter

Plants offer shelter from weather, predators and disease. They also provide a variety of habitats for other organisms. Shelter includes trees, grasses and other shrubs as well as huts built by human communities. Depending on the region, shelters can be made of different materials including wood, twigs, bamboo, leaves and straw. They can protect people from extreme temperatures, heavy winds and storms. Shelters can also be used to protect belongings like food supplies, tools and household items.

Trees and plants are the primary habitats for thousands of other organisms. They provide shelter, water and protection from weather and predators. They also alter the climate by providing shade, reducing temperature and modifying rainfall patterns.

In agriculture, sheltered crops are often grown to enhance yield and quality. This is thought to be due to the positive effects of a shelterbelt on the environment around a crop. It is believed that the combination of heat, carbon dioxide and humidity found in a shelterbelt stimulates and improves key processes like photosynthesis and respiration.

When choosing shelter for your plants, consider their specific species and environmental requirements. Be sure to select materials that strike a balance between durability and breathability. Cheap shelters compromise breathability, preventing air exchange and encouraging the growth of bacterial colonies that may suffocate and kill your plants.

A breathable shelter allows for proper airflow and prevents moisture buildup that can cause fungal diseases. The right kind of shelter can also reduce the amount of time it takes for a plant to reach maturity and bear fruit. To minimize pruning and trimming costs, it is best to choose a species that will not grow too tall. For example, permaculture design recommends putting up a shelterbelt of trees that will grow to about 6m high when they are mature. This will save money, heartache and time spent pruning or removing them.

Clothing

The plants that people use for clothing provide warmth and comfort, and help them feel attractive. They also make it possible for people to work, play, and go about their daily lives. People get a wide variety of clothing from the fibers that plants produce, including cotton, wool, and silk. Other useful products made from plants include paper, chewing gum, cork, rubber, and cocoa butter. People grow flowers to wear, and plant trees and shrubs for the beauty they add to the environment.

Definition: All human wearing apparel, except shoes and other footgear (except skis, swim fins, roller blades, and skates). Also called raiment, attire, and garb.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Medicine

Many people rely on traditional plant-based medicines for their primary healthcare, and herbs are increasingly being integrated into mainstream health systems worldwide. While some people may believe herbal remedies to be nothing more than folklore or superstition, there is growing scientific evidence that medicinal plants can be effective in preventing and treating a wide range of diseases.

Medicinal plants play a vital role in the economy of many communities, and their conservation is important for biodiversity and sustainable development. However, the demand for medicinal plants is increasing, and their wild populations are in danger of becoming endangered. Moreover, continued use of medicinal plants without proper conservation techniques results in species substitution, which can have negative consequences for patient safety.

To address these issues, researchers are using genetic engineering to create new medical plants that can be grown in large quantities. For example, biologists in Oklahoma are creating tobacco plants with seeds that produce proteins that thin the blood and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. These plants can also help patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Despite their economic value, very few studies have surveyed how medicinal plants contribute to the incomes of fringe communities. To address this gap, our research examined the gross contribution of medicinal plants to the incomes of households in Asukese and Amama shelterbelt forest reserves, and how this variable varies by socio-demographic characteristics. Additionally, we surveyed the availability trend and perceived drivers of loss of medicinal plants, as well as the strategies that rural residents employ to conserve them. The findings of our study suggest that herbal medicine significantly contributes to the incomes of rural dwellers, but that their conservation status largely depends on their socio-demographic traits.

Energy

Plants are the foundation of every food chain and they are an extremely abundant source of energy for organisms that consume them. They produce their own food through the photosynthetic process of photosynthesis, which converts radiant energy from the Sun into organic chemical energy in the form of sugars. This energy is used in cellular metabolism to fuel all biological functions. Plants also produce oxygen, a natural byproduct of photosynthesis that animals and other living things require to survive.

The morphological characteristics of plants are diverse and varied, but they all share an essential role in the function of Earth’s ecosystems. They can be found in natural environments, as well as cultivated farms and gardens around the globe. As the primary producers of food and shelter for all living organisms, they are vital to our survival.

A plant is a multicellular eukaryotic organism whose cells contain plastids that are capable of performing photosynthesis. Plastids are organelles containing pigments which absorb light energy at specific wavelengths and produce the primary products of photosynthesis, including glucose and oxygen. The plastids are typically green (chlorophyll), but can be colored by the presence of other pigments. The structure of a plant cell is further distinguished by the presence of cell walls, a feature shared only by plants.

The most basic and fundamental features that distinguish a plant from its animal counterparts are the ability to perform photosynthetic nutrition, unlimited growth at localized regions, and the production of cellulose in their cells. The latter characteristic allows plants to create a rigid and extensible structure that supports their life. Plants also possess a unique property that allows them to regulate their internal water balance through osmosis. The cytoplasmic bridges that connect adjacent plant cells, called plasmodesmata, allow them to swell and contract depending on the osmotic pressure of their environment. In extreme cases, loss of osmotic pressure can lead to lysis of the plant cell wall and subsequent cytorrhysis.

Ornamental Plants

Plants such as lavender, sage and peace lily are ornamental plants that can be used indoors or outdoors to add beauty to your garden. They can also promote relaxation and decrease stress levels.

Ornamental plants are a global market that is growing rapidly. Many companies breed improved cultivars to meet customer demand. They use genetic material from the wild to achieve these goals.