1. Introduction

Earth is a green planet which is filled with many plants and animal species. In the world, a lot of diversity exists within plants and animals. There are plenty of natural plant resources that are present around us.

 

 

Economic botany is a field of science that focuses on how plants can be useful for people. It primarily deals with how plants are useful for human welfare - as food, clothing, shelter and medicine, which are used directly or indirectly.

 

  

Indirect usage includes the needs of man's livestock and the maintenance of the environment. The direct benefits may be commercial, domestic, environmental, or also can be aesthetic.

Plants are useful for the country's economy to a great extent. It is also noted that a country's wealth depends mostly upon agriculture and plant products.

Rice, wheat, and millets have been the staple foods of the Indian population seen in ancient times. Evidence includes the presence of charred grains in the excavation sites. In addition, abundant information is available in ancient literature about the existence and usage of several crops that are of economic importance.

 

In this chapter, the different crop plants and their usefulness in the economy are discussed.