[00:09.40]Reading
[00:10.55]STUDYING PLANTS IN THE WILD
[00:12.25]The study of natural history is not something to be left to biologists.
[00:17.99]In fact, their capacity in terms of the time they can spend away from their offices is very limited.
[00:25.65]Even if all professors in universities and research institutes could devote all their time to the study of nature,
[00:34.11]their contribution, although important, would still be quite small.
[00:39.39]To the study of natural history the contribution of other people with an interest in nature has always been equally important.
[00:48.76]In many countries,
[00:51.51]groups of people who share an interest in nature have formed natural history clubs.
[00:57.28]They regularly get together to explore the environment near their hometown.
[01:03.00]Some people have a general interest in nature,
[01:06.76]while others try to become specialists.
[01:09.58]Therefore, large natural history societies usually have different groups to study and observe birds,
[01:18.52]plants, insects or other wildlife.
[01:21.44]Some clubs have a long history,
[01:25.28]and many started at schools with the help of a biology teacher.
[01:29.83]Natural history societies with a long history often have a good library and modern equipment to explore nature.
[01:39.26]They publish their own magazines, in which they report their observations and research.
[01:45.69]Even some nature clubs run by students aged between 12 and 25,
[01:51.54]are able to reach very high scientific standards.
[01:56.21]This is exactly why their contribution is so valuable.
[02:00.97]While governments,
[02:02.93]universities and research institutes only have limited budget to do fieldwork,
[02:09.27]people whose hobby it is to study botany can devote a great deal of money and time to it.
[02:16.14]Botany is very suitable as a hobby.
[02:20.09]Besides a good Flora, very little special equipment is needed.
[02:25.55]The most important things are a magnifying glass (at least 8x),
[02:30.90]a short ruler, a pen and a notebook.
[02:34.98]A Flora is a special book to identify plants.
[02:39.34]The Flora of the British Isles,for example,
[02:43.42]is a book that describes all plants that are native to the British Isles.
[02:48.54]It is usually possible to find the name of a plant in about ten minutes,
[02:54.81]especially for people who are experienced at working with a Flora.
[02:59.46]To find the name of plant species it is often necessary to have a close look and count the male and female organs in the flowers.
[03:10.30]To see this clearly,
[03:12.75]a magnifying glass is essential.
[03:15.21]Flowers are not always needed to identify the plant.
[03:19.47]Once the name has been found,
[03:22.21]it is important to make notes of the exact place where and the date when the plant was found.
[03:29.26]plants grow in communities, and plant sociology is the branch of botany that studies this phenomenon.
[03:37.41]By making a careful analysis of the plant growth in a square metre,
[03:42.84]it is possible to find out what type of plant community occupies the land.
[03:48.10]Some plant communities are made up of very common plant species.
[03:53.06]Others may contain very special, endangered plant species.
[03:57.92]Knowing more about nature will help us realise which parts of our environment deserve our protection.
[04:04.87]It is not necessary for you do live in the countryside to take an active interest in botany.
[04:11.68]Any environment, whether urban or rural,
[04:14.95]offers a variety of different habitats, in which plants can be studied.
[04:19.99]Nature often has to put up a fierce struggle to survive in the city.
[04:25.55]Still, every city contains natural habitats,
[04:29.92]in which wild plants have found their home.
[04:32.63]To study, describe and protect them makes and important contribution to science and an effort to care for the environment |