Plant Systematics An Integrated Approach

About this book

The present fourth edition blends information on classical fundamental aspects with recent developments especially in the field of molecular systematics, cladistics and computer identification. Special attention has been given to information on botanical nomenclature, identification, molecular systematics and phylogeny of angiosperms. The complicated concepts of phylogeny, taxometrics and cladistics have been explained with a view to provide a comparison between these diverse but interactive fields of study. The major systems of classification are critically evaluated.

Contents

Plants, Taxonomy and Systematics:
- Plants and Kingdoms of Life
- Two Kingdom System
- Two Empires Thee Kingdoms
- Five Kingdom System
- Six or Seven Kingdoms?
- The Plant Kingdom
- Taxonomy and Systematics
- Basic Components (Principles) of Systematics
- Aims of Systematics
- Advancement levels in Systematics.

Descriptive Terminology
- Habit and life span
- Habitat
- Roots
- Stems
- Leaves
- Leaf arrangement
- Leaf duration
- Leaf incision
- Stipules
- Leaf shape
- Leaf margin
- Leaf base
- Leaf apex
- Leaf surface
- Venation
- Inflorescence
- Racemose types
- Cymose types
- Specialized types
- Flower
- Calyx
- Corolla
- Perianth
- Androecium
- Gynoecium
- Fruit
- Simple fruits
- Aggregate fruits
- Multiple fruits
- Floral diagram
- Floral formula.

Process of Identification
- Specimen preparation
- Field work
- Equipment
- Pressing
- Handling special groups
- Drying
- Herbarium methods
- Botanical gardens
- Herbaria
- Pest control
- Virtual herbarium
- Identification methods
- Taxonomic literature
- Taxonomic keys
- Computers in identification
- DNA Barcoding

Systematic evidence, Interdisciplinary Approach
- Morphology
- Habit
- Underground parts
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Anatomy
- Wood Anatomy
- Trichomes
- Epidermal features
- Leaf anatomy
- Floral Anatomy
- Embryology
- Families marked out by distinct embryological features
- Specific examples of role of embryological data
- Palynology
- Pollen aggregation
- Pollen wall
- Pollen aperture
- Micromorphology and Ultrastructure
- Micromorphology
- Ultrastructure
- Chromosomes
- Chromosomal number
- Chromosomal structure
- Chromosomal behavior
- Chemotaxonomy
- Primary metabolites
- Secondary metabolites
- Non-semantide Macromolecules
- Proteins
- Molecular systematics
- Molecular evolution
- Location of molecular data
- Molecular techniques
- DNA polymorphism
- Examples of molecular studies
- Species vs Gene trees

Hierarchical Classification
- Taxonomic groups categories and ranks
- Utilization of categories
- Species concept
- Infraspecific ranks
- Genus
- Family

Nomenclature of Plants
- Need for Scientific names
- Why Latin? Development of Botanical Code
- Botanical Code
- Preamble
- Principles of ICN
- Names of Taxa
- The Type Method
- Author Citation
- Publication of Names
- Rejection of Names
- Principle of Priority
- Names of Hybrids
- Names of Cultivated Plants
- Unified Biological Nomenclature
- Draft BioCode
- PhyloCode

Customer Reviews

Biography

The author, Dr. Gurcharan Singh, is a practicing taxonomist having worked extensively with the floristics and phytosociology of N. W. Himalayas and the general nomenclatural problems. He has nearly 40 years of experience in teaching taxonomy, ecology and environment. He has retired from Sri GuruTegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi, India. He has published nearly 42 research papers including a number of new species and nomenclatural changes. He has also authored 14 books. He is presently engaged in developing online database, helping online identifications and providing guidance in various online forums. He also has accumulated a fair knowledge of Floristics of SW United States, mainly California plants.