Plant resources for innovative development of the South of Russia

The article presents a variant of the detailed classification of plant resources grouped according to their use, application, types of raw materials and biologically active substances. This classification comprises 13 groups and 66 subgroups with smaller divisions. Examples of plants are given for each classification unit. The role of plants in human life was studied basing on ethnobotanical data on the species available in the collection of the Sochi «Dendrarium». The collected gene pool forms the background for the development of many areas, including forestry with the production of valuable timber species, industries using natural raw materials, alternative energy, agriculture, food industry, forage production, biomaterial science, pharmaceutical industry, the creation of safe and comfortable human habitats in populated areas, the development of domestic tourism, education and raising environmental awareness.