Plants Systematics
An Integrated Approach
Gurcharan Singh: Department of Botany, University of Delhi, India
ISBN 978-1-57808-351-0; 2004; 572 pages, pb; US$ 49.50      Buy Now

This new and thoroughly updated edition further consolidates the information on the principles of plant systematics, and includes descriptions of all major systems of classification, and significantly, also include discussion on the selected families of flowering plants, without sacrificing the discussion on basic principles. The description of families was deliberately left out in the earlier edition. The families included for discussion are largely those which have wide representation, as also those that are less known but significant in evaluating the phylogeny of angiosperms. The discussion of the families also has a considerable focus on their phylogenetic relationships, as evidenced by recent cladistic studies, with liberal citation of molecular data.

The book strikes a balance between classical fundamental information and the recent developments in plant systematics. Special attention has been devoted to the information on botanical nomenclature, identification and phylogeny of angiosperms with numerous relevant examples and detailed explanation of the important nomenclatural problems. An attempt has been made to present a continuity between orthodox and contemporary identification methods by working on a common example. The methods of identification using computers have been further explored to help better online identification. The chapter on cladistic methods has been totally revised, and molecular systematics discussed in considerable detail.


Contents:
Taxonomy and Systematics
Basic Components of Systematics. Aims of Systematics. Advancement Levels in Systematics. Systematics in Internet Revolution.

Historical Background of Plant Classification
Classifications based on Gross Morphology. Sexual System. Natural Systems. Phylogenetic Systems

Botanical Nomenclature
Need for Scientific Names. History of Botanical Nomenclature. Principles of ICBN. 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

Descriptive Terminology
Habit and Life Span. Roots. Stems. Leaves. Inflorescence. Flower. Fruit. Floral Formula. Floral Diagram

Process of Identification
Specimen Preparation. Herbarium Methods. Identification Methods

Hierarchical Classifications
Taxonomic groups, Categories and Ranks. Utilization of Categories

Variation and Speciation
Types of Variation. Variance Analysis. Isolating Mechanisms. Speciation

Taxonomic Evidence
Morphology. Anatomy. Embryology. Micromorphology and Ultrastructure. Chromosomes. Chemotaxonomy o Molecular Systematics

Phenetic Methods: Taxometrics
Principles of Taxometrics. Operational Taxonomic Units. Taxonomic Characters. Measurement of Resemblance. Cluster Analysis. Ordination. Application of Numerical Taxonomy in Angiosperms

Phylogenetic Methods: Cladistics
Important Phylogenetic Terms and Concepts. Cladistic Methodology. Developing Classifica-tions

Phylogeny of Angiosperms
Origin of Angiosperms. Basal Living Angiosperms. Evolutionary Trends

Major Systems of Classification
Bentham and Hooker. Engler and Prantl. John Hutchinson. Armen Takhtajan. Arthur Cronquist. Rolf Dahlgren. Robert Thorne. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group

Major Families of Angiosperms
Subclass: Magnoliidae. Alismatidae. Liliidae. Commelinididae. Ranunculidae. Hamamelididae. Caryophyllidae. Rosidae. Asteridae. Lamiidae

Plant Geography
Historical Development. Aims and Scope. Physical Geography of Earth. Static or Descriptive Phytogeography. Dynamic or Interpretive Phytogeography