PLANTS IN DAILY USE 

Without plants there would be no human life so we need to know about why we need them, and how we use them. Here are a few of the many examples but you will have fun in making your own lists.

Clothes

The cotton plant produces the most important natural fibre that we use in making our clothes.  Linen is made from flax and wood fibre gives us cellulose which is used in the manufacture of viscose.

Medicines

So many plants are used for their natural healing properties and have been for many generations. Many derivatives are used as with evening primrose oil, Echinacea, castor oil, aloe Vera, ginseng, chamomile and garlic.  They are still used today in modern medicines as in the production of cotton for bandages and plasters or tea tree oil for antiseptics.  Some produce poisons that can be used to the good in the correct doses as with foxgloves that contain a substance which is used to treat heart conditions.  The bark of willows has acetylsalicylic acid which led to the creation of one of the most used painkillers, aspirin.

Health and Beauty

Soaps and shampoos are partly made from plants that have cleansing qualities like palm oils and for their different fragrances like lavender, sandalwood, almond and coconut etc.  Hair dyes can be made with plants such as henna, coffee beans and black walnut.  Bath oils are used to relax and moisturise using infused herbs.  Loofahs  are good for scrubbing and come from a dried fruit of the gourd family.  Toothpaste derives from cellulose and gum which comes from wood pulp with extracts of mint for flavouring.  Cosmetic substances are extracted from various nuts, avocados, aloe Vera and even carrots.  Scents and perfumes are all taken from flowers and plants such as sandalwood, frankincense, lily of the valley, lavender, roses and citrus fruits.

Household

Buildings use wood for their framework, floors, doors and windows etc. Furniture can be made from softwoods or hardwoods with plant stems like bamboo, willow and rushes used as seats or decorations.  Kitchen cabinets, fitted wardrobes are nearly always made from wood or wooden products. Wall papers and paints are all made from plant ingredients.  Rubber comes from the rubber tree and is used in many manufactured items.

Sports and Leisure

Cricket, hockey, baseball, golf, billiards and many other sports all rely on plants for their equipment and some are played on grass.  Most musical instruments from recorders to drumsticks and violins to guitars contain parts of plants.  When writing or drawing we use paper, inks, pencils and paints which come from plants or plant extracts.  Boats can be made of wood and so too the jetties that they are tied to with rope made from hemp or sisal. 

Foods

These are probably the most important reason for growing all plants.  Fruit and vegetables are what our bodies need for a healthy life along with all cereals that produce our staple foods like bread and rice.  Bread can be wheat or rye and can contain other seeds such as poppy and sesame. Tea is made from leaves and coffee is made from seeds of special plants.  Chocolate and cocoa are made from the beans of the cocoa tree and honey is produced by bees collecting and converting nectar from flowers of all types.  Jam is made with many fruits and sugar which comes from cane and beet.  Soya beans produce the richest source of protein and have been used for centuries.  Nearly two thirds of all products contain ingredients from Soya and it can be used in so many different ways.  Margarines and oils are mostly pressed from plants as Soya, sunflower seeds and palms.  Sugar is produced by all green plants and some have their sap or juice extracted to produce sweet syrups such as maple.  Herbs and spices are not only in our foods but are among the most used plants both in medicines, health and cosmetics.