The Earth looks like a blue-green ball from space. Blue, because most of its surface is occupied by the ocean. And green-because there are about 300,000 species of higher plants on our planet. Plants – the tallest and simplest – make up 99% of the earth’s biomass.
The life of humans and other living things is impossible without plants: they produce nutrients that are consumed by all other living things, and oxygen, which is necessary for breathing and microorganisms, and animals, and plants.
If all the other species of living organisms on our planet suddenly disappeared-except for plants, the Earth would still remain habitable and would look from space in the same blue-green ball. But if plants suddenly disappear on Earth, life on our planet will stop.
Plants are oxygen
With the exception of a small number of species of anaerobic bacteria, all other organisms use oxygen for their respiration, which is released by plants during photosynthesis. Plants, as a result of their life, created a familiar atmosphere around the Earth – the primary atmosphere before the appearance of life on the planet consisted mainly of carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.
We see a blue sky above us, because our atmosphere contains about 21% oxygen,but on Mars, where there is very little oxygen, the sky has a pinkish tinge.
Oxygen accumulated in the upper atmosphere created the ozone layer, which serves as a barrier to the Sun’s harsh infrared radiation. Only thanks to the protection of the ozone layer, life on the planet could come out of the ocean, and living beings could exist on land, in the air.
Plants are food
Plants and bacteria-living creatures on our planet, are autotrophic, that is, independently synthesizing organic substances for their nutrition.
Animals and humans are heterotrophs that use organic substances synthesized by plants for food. Plants are at the beginning of the food chain, and bacteria close it. We somehow consume what the plants have synthesized for us.
Plants are almost everything that surrounds us
In addition to food, medicines and vitamins are obtained from plants, fibers for the production of fabrics, dyes, tannins and rubber substances, and building materials are made. Fossil hydrocarbons-coal, oil and gas-are the basis of the modern technological world. These are also plants.
Green spaces regulate the microclimate of cities, restrain soil erosion, enliven the air with phytoncides, soften sudden temperature changes, weaken wind gusts and serve as an obstacle to the propagation of sound waves. Plants purify the air and water, retaining more than 60% of the pollution. And besides, plants just decorate our lives.
The European Organization for Plant Biology has established the International Plant Day on May 18. Its purpose is to remind people that we owe our existence to plants, to inspire people with the beauty of plants, and to demonstrate the importance of respecting the green garb of the Earth.