— biodiversity |ˌbīōdiˈvərsitē| noun.
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. In other words, biodiversity is simply the web of life on earth, comprising its hugely diverse range of species, genes and ecosystems. The balance of ecosystems is vital to a healthy, functioning environment. Biodiversity also plays a critical role in supporting the basic services upon which human life depends. For example, biodiversity provides food, timber, fuel and fibre for clothing.
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An Abbreviated Botanical Glossary
“So likewise in the person of Solomon the king, we see the gift or endowment of wisdom and learning, both in Solomon’s petition and in God’s assent thereunto, preferred before all other terrene and temporal felicity. By virtue of which grant or donative of God Solomon became enabled not only to write those excellent parables or aphorisms concerning divine and moral philosophy, but also to compile a natural history of all verdure, from the cedar upon the mountain to the moss upon the wall (which is but a rudiment between putrefaction and an herb), and also of all things that breathe or move. Nay, the same Solomon the king, although he excelled in the glory of treasure and magnificent buildings, of shipping and navigation, of service and attendance, of fame and renown, and the like, yet he maketh no claim to any of those glories, but only to the glory of inquisition of truth; for so he saith expressly, “The glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of a king is to find it out;” as if, according to the innocent play of children, the Divine Majesty took delight to hide His works, to the end to have them found out; and as if kings could not obtain a greater honour than to be God’s playfellows in that game; considering the great commandment of wits and means, whereby nothing needeth to be hidden from them.”
Sir Francis Bacon - The Advancement of Learning (1605).