How, when and why did cultural plants appear?

It seems to me that the term "cultural plants" has already been heard more than once in everyday life. For the first time this concept is mentioned in the lessons of natural science in the junior classes of the general education school. But in this article, I propose to expand this concept more broadly, by dwelling in detail on the types of these representatives of the flora of our planet, to understand the history of their origin and the benefits they can bring to us.

Section 1. Cultivated plants. Definition of concept

This species of plants, in contrast to wild plants, is specially grown by man. What for? Well, the goals can be very different. Typically, in order to get certain foods or feed for farm animals. Sometimes they are used even as therapeutic drugs.

Scientists say that a cultivated plant does not have its own range, which means that with the artificial creation of certain climatic conditions, it can be grown everywhere, i.e. Regardless of the place of original origin. However, unfortunately, no species can spread naturally.

Section 2. Cultural Plants and the History of their "Domestication"

If you go deeper into history, you can come to the conclusion that the cultivation of this plant type began long ago, even in the Stone Age. It was then, along with hunting and gathering, the native thought to grow what he needed. He began to collect the seeds and toss them into pre-loosened and moistened soil.

A little while passed, and the ancient man, who by that time had already begun to lead a more sedentary life, had learned to tolerate crops quite tolerably. Of course, this required the expenditure of effort and patience, but planted plants were regularly watered and freed from ubiquitous weeds. Around especially valuable varieties, hedges were even erected to protect the seedlings from trampling or eating by numerous animals.

At first, artificial selection was carried out very unconsciously, and the best cultures were chosen on the basis of only consumer qualities, for example, larger fruits or pleasant tastes. But this is what subsequently led to the creation of cultural plants.

The very first, still very primitive agriculture of the Bronze Age served as an impetus to the emergence of large centers for the cultivation of a particular species. Subsequently, from these very hearths, as a result of travel, war and mass trade, representatives of the flora began to spread throughout the entire planet.

Section 3. Cultivated plants and their types

Honestly, there are several ways to classify all of the planet's crop plants. In this article I will try to tell you about the most basic.

Quite often, these plants are classified, taking as their basis for their economic purpose. As a result, it appears that there are the following groups:

• Fodder;
• Dyeing;
• Medicinal;
• Melliferous;
• Food;
• Spinning;
• Technical.

I managed to find another classification, but it, because of its inconvenience, is used much less often. In accordance with it, cultural plants are considered on the basis of substances contained within and there are:

• Alkaloid-containing;
• Protein-containing;
• Fibrous;
• Greasy-oil-bearing;
• Starch-bearing;
• Sugar-bearing;
• Essential oil.

But the most logical and most often used is the classification, which is based on the industry principle. In accordance with it, cultures are divided into:

• Vegetable (root, leaf, bulbous, fruit, spicy aromatic, cauline);
• Fruit (stone, nut-bearing, pomegranate, subtropical, citrus, berry);
• Field (melons (according to some scientists), legumes, grains, tubers, fodder grasses, root crops, cereals, medicinal, oilseeds, spinning, tobacco, essential oil).

In addition, there are two separate groups: grapes and ornamental plants, which are engaged, respectively, viticulture and floriculture.