Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data

"In this comprehensive volume, the author makes accessible the theoretical concepts and abundant comparative data that are available to modern plant taxonomists. Stuessy synthesizes the extensive literature on systematic biology as it applies to plant taxonomy and includes the most comprehensive bibliography of systematic botany in the last twenty five years. Coverage of the three principal schools of biological classification – phenetics, phyletics, and the controversial cladistics – is thorough yet balanced. Abundant illustrations and photographs highlight and complement the theoretical and philosophical discussions. This work serves also as a useful introduction to pertinent literature for comparative data in systematic botany. A modern and detailed treatment of plant taxonomy, Plant Taxonomy stresses the importance and relevance of systematic botany to biology and to modern society. CONTENTS : I. The Meaning of Classification 1. A Few Definitions 2. The Relevance of Systematics 3. The Importance and Universality of Classification 4. Characters II. Different Approaches to Biological Classification 5. The Anatomy of Classification and the Artificial Approach 6. Natural and Phyletic Approaches 7. Phenetic Approach 8. Cladistic Approach 9. Evaluation of the Three Major Approaches III. Concepts of Categories 10. The Taxonomic Hierarchy 11. Species 12. Subspecies, Variety and Form 13. Genus 14. Family and Higher Categories IV. Types of Data 15. Morphology 16. Anatomy 17. Embryology 18. Palynology 19. Cytology 20. Genetics and Cytogenetics 21. Chemistry 22. Reproductive Biology 23. Ecology V. Handling of Data 24. Gathering of Data 25. Presentation of Data "