The Wonders of Botany

Exploring the life and science of plants

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll. This process essentially converts light energy into chemical energy.

The Formula:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Light Energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Without this process, most life on Earth would not exist, as it provides both the food base for the food chain and the oxygen we breathe.

Basic Plant Structure

Roots

Absorb water and minerals from the soil and anchor the plant firmly in the ground.

Stems

Provide support for the plant and act as a transport system for nutrients and water.

Leaves

The primary site of photosynthesis. They capture sunlight and "breathe" in CO2.

Plant Classifications

Angiosperms: Flowering plants that produce seeds within a fruit.
Gymnosperms: Non-flowering plants that produce "naked" seeds (like pine cones).
Bryophytes: Small, non-vascular plants like mosses that prefer damp environments.
Pteridophytes: Vascular plants that reproduce via spores (like ferns).