Taxonomy and
classification
What is taxonomy
• Branch of systematics – the study of the relationships between organisms
Has four main functions:
•Classification •Identification
•Nomenclature (naming of organisms) •Description
Taxonomic ranking
• Ranking is done hierarchically
• Taxon – An organism or group of organisms at any specific rank
• Aim of classification to have the most predictive power
-- If a taxon is part of family Euphorbiaceae it will have characters X, Y, Z.
• Each taxonomic level is more general than the one below it
• If only 1 taxon is at any rank it is considered monotypic
Nomenclature
• Carolus Linnaeus / Carl von Linné (1707-1778)
• Father of modern taxonomy
• Formalised binomial nomenclature
Whats in a name?
• Ancient practice for useful plants
• Allows for effective communication
-- Common names vary
-- Common name misleading
• Relates information, e.g. Euphorbia obesa Hook.
• Key to all known information
Classification systems
• Only unscientific classification is a classification without premise or methodology
• Goal: Ordering of information
• Useful classification: Predictive power, Consistency, Stability
classification
What is taxonomy
• Branch of systematics – the study of the relationships between organisms
Has four main functions:
•Classification •Identification
•Nomenclature (naming of organisms) •Description
Taxonomic ranking
• Ranking is done hierarchically
• Taxon – An organism or group of organisms at any specific rank
• Aim of classification to have the most predictive power
-- If a taxon is part of family Euphorbiaceae it will have characters X, Y, Z.
• Each taxonomic level is more general than the one below it
• If only 1 taxon is at any rank it is considered monotypic
Nomenclature
• Carolus Linnaeus / Carl von Linné (1707-1778)
• Father of modern taxonomy
• Formalised binomial nomenclature
Whats in a name?
• Ancient practice for useful plants
• Allows for effective communication
-- Common names vary
-- Common name misleading
• Relates information, e.g. Euphorbia obesa Hook.
• Key to all known information
Classification systems
• Only unscientific classification is a classification without premise or methodology
• Goal: Ordering of information
• Useful classification: Predictive power, Consistency, Stability
