Unveiling the roots of botanical literacy: A systematic literature review on its concepts and domains

Botanical literacy is a solution to overcome plant blindness and increase plant awareness. It plays a role in improving the ability to understand plants from cognitive, attitudinal, and skill aspects. In the context of botany learning in higher education, botanical literacy focuses on cognitive aspects and involves attitudes and skills to build a holistic understanding. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses diagram was used in this systematic literature review to illustrate the inclusion and exclusion process of studies considered for inclusion in the systematic review with a total of 27 articles that provided a comprehensive explanation of the concept of botanical literacy and identified the dimensions of botanical literacy. In the cognitive domain, botanical literacy includes plant biological knowledge, plant diversity and classification, and plant ecology and its relations with the environment. In the attitude domain, the dimensions include appreciation for plants and nature, environmental concern, and plant conservation, and motivation to engage in sustainable practices. Meanwhile, the skills domain includes plant identification skills and gardening and cultivation skills. This study emphasizes the importance of botanical literacy in holistically supporting botanical learning in higher education. The implications of this study indicate the need for a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of botanical literacy, particularly in the context of education and ecological awareness in society.