Botany, including the terms plant biology, plant sciences, and phytology, is the scientific study of plants (generally defined as multicellular photosynthetic organisms with walled cells) embracing the structure, development, reproduction, physiology, metabolism, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, evolution, diseases, and the economic importance of plants. Historically, the university subject has included algae, photosynthetic bacteria, and fungi as these were usually taught in the same degree programs as those on land plants. This entry examines the decline of botany as an [Page 179]academic subject and department in universities, the teaching of botany, and job opportunities for trained botanists.