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Page 5 · DO #1408 · 207_Kelso_r
- Collection
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Leon Hugh Kelso (1907–1982) papers
- Item/Folder
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Papers, 1929–1976, n.d.
- Digital Object
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DO #1408,
page 5
- Collection-level dates
- 1929–1974, n.d.
Page transcription
-1-
BIOLOGICAL LEAFLET NO. 106 L. K. Issued November, 1974
Classification of Vegetation.
Principles of classification and classification systems
of various phytocenological schools. Transl. L. Kelso
V. D. Aleksandrova. "Nauka"Publishing House. Leningrad. 1969.
WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION? p. 5-11
There is no problem in geobotany which can evoke so much
discussion and so much contradictory literature as the subject of
classification of vegetation. In the scientific world there is no
unity of opinion, either as to the basic principles of classifica-
tion nor in makeup of a classification system, nor in modes of
gathering field material and its treatment. The disagreement
involves both the basic idea as well as the methods, and the
sharply discordant terminology. To look into this complex situation
critically, one must define first of all what we mean by classifica-
tion, what tasks are undertaken in classification, and what
requirements are satisfactory for these tasks.
Classification is a logical operation which involves the
separation of a given multiple of objects into submultiples,
or classes wherein by class we mean an aggregation of objects
having common characters distinguishing objects of the given
class from other objects which do not have such characters.
Classification of plants for example is defined as a "logical
operation consisting of separation of the whole multiple of
organisms examined according to their constituent resemblances
and differences into separate submultiples or groups, called
taxons." (Taktadzhyan, 1966: 34.) Notwithstanding the consistent
logical basis of procedures of classification for any objects,
classification of plant communities has, in comparison to
