Institute of Botany

The Institute of Botany studies the ecology, evolution, ecophysiology, and diversity of plants.

⇒ Ecology: how do plant individuals, populations and communities respond to abiotic conditions and biotic interactions with other organisms?

⇒ Evolution: how to genes, traits and lineages respond to selection, drift, mutation and gene flow across space and time?

⇒ Ecophysiology: how are plants affected by and adapt to abiotic stress?

⇒ Diversity: how do the above processes generate and maintain diversity?

We conduct fundamental and applied research to understand and conserve plants under global change.

Our teaching provides students with fundamental and advanced knowledge in systematic botany, vegetation science, ecology, evolution, plant anatomy and physiology, as well as plant-environment interactions, habitats, biodiversity, and conservation biology. Through lectures, practical courses, and excursions, students explore the structure and function of plants, species identification, and the ecological understanding of plants in their habitats.