The course aims to furnish the basic elements of plant biology, needed for the comprehension of the main functions and adaptations of plants in relation with environment: the peculiarities of plant cell, the anatomy of roots, stems and leaves, plant growth and development and their regulation. Also the fundamentals of important processes such as photosynthesis and Nitrogen metabolism will be treated. In the second part of the course, the basic elements needed for the comprehension of principles and methods of botanical classification will be given. Evolutionary and phylogenetic aspects for the main groups of chlorophyllian photosynthetic organisms (as well as those pertaining to the kingdom Fungi) will be addressed, as well as elements of chorology (geographic, climatic, pedologic and anthropic factors influencing the plant distribution on earth). Major taxa will be presented concerning their morpho-anatomical features, with some hints on identification techniques.