The field of plant taxonomy has transformed rapidly over the past fifteen years, especially with regard to improvements in cladistic analysis and the use of new molecular data. The second edition of this popular resource reflects these far-reaching and dramatic developments with more than 3,000 new references and many new figures. Synthesizing current research and trends, Plant Taxonomy now provides the most up-to-date overview in relation to monographic, biodiversity, and evolutionary studies, and continues to be an essential resource for students and scholars.
This text is divided into two parts: Part 1 explains the principles of taxonomy, including the importance of systematics, characters, concepts of categories, and different approaches to biological classification. Part 2 outlines the different types of data used in plant taxonomic studies with suggestions on their efficacy and modes of presentation and evaluation. This section also lists the equipment and financial resources required for gathering each type of data. References throughout the book illuminate the historical development of taxonomic terminology and philosophy while citations offer further study. Plant Taxonomy is also a personal story of what it means to be a practicing taxonomist and to view these activities within a meaningful conceptual framework. Tod F. Stuessy recalls the progression of his own work and shares his belief that the most creative taxonomy is done by those who have a strong conceptual grasp of their own research.
By:
Tod F. Stuessy
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: second edition
Dimensions:
Height: 279mm,
Width: 216mm,
Spine: 33mm
Weight: 2.041kg
ISBN: 9780231147125
ISBN 10: 0231147120
Pages: 568
Publication Date: 01 January 2009
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface to the first edition Preface to the second edition Acknowledgments for the first edition Acknowledgments for the second edition I. PRINCIPLES OF TAXONOMY Section 1. The Meaning of Classification 1. A few definitions 2. The relevance of systematics 3. The importance and universality classification 4. Characters Section 2. 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 and explicit phyletics Section 3. Concepts of Categories 10. The taxonomic hierarchy 11. Species 12. Subspecies, variety, and form 13. Genus 14. Family and higher categories II. TAXONOMIC DATA Section 4. Types of data 15. Morphology 16. Anatomy 17. Embryology 18. Palynology 19. Phytochemistry 20. Cytology and cytogenetics 21. Molecular biology 22. Genetics and population genetics 23. Reproductive biology 24. Ecology Section 5. Handling of Data 25. Gathering and storage of data 26. Presentation of data Epilogue Literature Cited Author Index Subject Index
Tod F. Stuessy is professor and chair of the Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany at the University of Vienna, Austria. He also serves as the Secretary-General of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy. The author or editor of nine books and over 250 research papers, he is the recipient of the Asa Gray Award from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Merit and Centennial Awards from the Botanical Society of America, and Corresponding Membership from the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Reviews for Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data
This new edition of Plant Taxonomy is long overdue... Highly recommended. Choice Well written and lucid... a comprehensive text that manages to smoothly bridge classical and recent systematic approaches to identification, nomenclature, and classification. -- R. Geeta Quarterly Review of Biology
