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TAXONOMY OF PHANEROGAMS
Taxonomy is the systematic arrangement of organisms designed to give expression
to their evolutionary relationships. This expression usually is implicit rather
than explicit. Taxonomy involves detailed analyses from as many points of view
as possible, description, and arrangement into a system expressed as a 'natural'
key and sequence which imply the presumed relationships. Some sort of phylogenetic
diagram may be used to describe the relationships, but these are to be considered
as quite hypothetical and of a very general nature. After the system of relation-
is worked out--the taxonomic system--it must be fitted into the arbitrary
structure agreed upon in the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature designed
to give stability. This stability is only nomenclatural: cf. species of bacteria,
apomictic dandelions, or aneuploid sedges. In working out relationships, trans-
mission genetics and descriptive morphology commonly are employed or assumed;
actually all fields of botany have something to contribute. The newer dynamic,
as opposed to static or descriptive, fields of botany; developmental morphology
and population genetics (esp. in relation to ecology) are becoming of the greatest
importance. For while we may be able to make a classification of organs, species,
etc. on a static basis with apparent ease, when we consider their development
we may find convergences or similar origins which were not suspected. Because
of the tremendous number of plants which must be named, described and keyed in
order to be used with precision by any workers (cf. standardization of chemicals)
it is necessary to be as brief as possible, have a universally agreed system
of doing things, make artificial keys, study local flora. The work of taxonomists
should not be judged by these aspects of taxonomy. Similarly, a taxonomist must
be, and usually is, a morphologist, anatomist, geneticist, etc. (or better still,
a biologist), capable of understanding basic research in all fields of botany--
he cannot do significant research in taxonomy, as defined above, in nomenclature,
e.g. These remarks are to be interpreted as relatively impractical and more or
less naive, but nevertheless useful, goals.
History of taxonomy. The renascent period of uncritical attitude and unquestioned
adherence to dogma, revival of encyclopedias, the compilation of knowledge, in botany,
especially of the medicinal properties of plants.
OTTO BRUNFELSIUS(Brunfels, 1464-1554)--early Lutheran herbalist who published in
1530 his Herbarium vivae icones, a compilation with excellent, original illustration
HIERONYMUS TRAGUS(Hieronymous Bock)--prepared an original herbal the New Kreuterbuch
(1559).
VALERIUS CORDUS(1515-1544)--made detailed systematic descriptions in Historia
plantarum, published posthumously by Jesner in 1561.
CONRAD GESNER(1516-1565)--physician and zoologist, emphasized importance of flower
and fruit in classification.
LEONHARD FUCHS(1501-1566)--physician and medical botanist, compiler who believed
in the supreme authority of Dioscorides, excellent illustrations in his De historia
stirpium.
CAROLUS CLUSIUS(Charles de l'Ecluse, 1526-1609)--physician, traveled much through
Europe, introduced many new plants including white potato. Hariorum aliquot
stirpium per Hispanias observatorum (1576).
WILLIAM TURNER(?1515-1568)--English herbalist who threw out many superstitions;
used alphabetical arrangement; original. A New Herball(1551,1562, 1568).
JOHN GERARD (1545-1612)--British gardener who produced the unoriginal, plagiaristic,
superstitious Herball or general historie of plantes (1597).
ANDREA CESALPINO(1519-1603)--physician and botanist at Bologna, director of
botanical garden, physician to Pope. De plantis(1583). Philosopher of aristotelian
school who sought theoretical rather than practical (medicinal) classification,
on basis of flower and fruit which he regarded as being more 'perfect'. Believed flowers had arisen from leaves.
