Nomenclature

1
Nomenclature Taxonomic Principles

• Lecture 1

2
Plant Taxonomy

• Groups of organisms are described and named
• Systematics is the theory and practice of
  grouping individuals into species, arranging
  those species into larger groups, and giving
  those groups names
• Classification can use a key!!!

3
Classification schemes

• Engler and Prantl (1887-1915) Englerian system
• Standard classification system used in many
  herbaria and floras
• Rejected by most systematists b/c of their
  tendency to equate simple with primitive
• Many of Englers families are still accepted

4
Classification schemes

• Bessey (1915)
• Primitive families have flowers with many, free,
  equal and spirally arranged parts
• Advancement via evolution resulted in
  aggregation, fusion, reduction, and loss of parts
• Most modern classifications use Bessey tradition

5
Families

• Focus on families b/c applicable wherever you are
• Genus and species changes with location
• Are useful conceptual units bases on phenetic
  considerations (similarities differences) and
  tradition
• Are characterized by reproductive features w/
  some additional vegetative and sometimes chemical
  characteristics
• Ideally, would use phylogenetic analyses based on
  monophyletic groupings