How is the study of plant anatomy useful to us?
The study of plant anatomy is useful to us in several ways. It helps us understand the internal structure and functional organisation of higher plants. By studying anatomy, we can observe structural similarities and variations in plants, similar to what we observe in external morphology.
Plant anatomy enables us to differentiate between different types of plants. For instance, within angiosperms, monocots and dicots are anatomically different. By observing anatomical features like the arrangement of vascular bundles in transverse sections, we can identify whether a plant is a monocot or dicot.
Additionally, the study of internal structures helps us understand how plants show adaptations to diverse environments. Since cells are organised into tissues and tissues into organs, studying anatomy reveals how different organs in a plant show differences in their internal structure.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the introductory paragraph of Chapter 6 which defines anatomy as the study of internal structure of plants. The key points mentioned in the context include: understanding structural similarities and variations, functional organisation of higher plants, anatomical differences between monocots and dicots, and adaptations to diverse environments. These points directly address the utility of studying plant anatomy.