The fourth edition addresses the newest developments in contemporary plant classification; includes 500 all-new drawings; discusses and illustrates 275 families in detail in unique, one-page format; and includes two outstanding electronic-content features:
the landmark University of Wisconsin DVD Photo Atlas of the Vascular Plants now with more than 8,500 plant images representing 325 plant families
the all-new Interactive Keys to Vascular Plant Families of the World in CD format for easy identification of plant families
Click here to read a sample from this book.
CONTENTS
Preface
CHAPTER 1 The Significance of Systematics
Definitions
Purposes and Significance of Systematics
CHAPTER 2 How Plants Get Their Names
Common or Vernacular Names
Latin Names
Principles of the Code of Botanical Nomenclature
What Is Involved in Validly Publishing a Name?
Phylocode
CHAPTER 3 How Plants Are Identified
Some Basic Rules for Constructing and Using Dichotomous Keys
Other Identification Methods
CHAPTER 4 Collecting, Handling, and Preserving Specimens
Materials Needed for Collecting Plants
Procedure for Pressing, Drying, and Labeling Specimens
The Herbarium
Ethics of Collecting and Handling Specimens
CHAPTER 5 History and Development of Classification to the Twenty-First Century
Form System of Plants
Sexual System of Plants
Early “Natural” Systems
Post-Darwinian “Natural” Classification Systems (1860–1950)
Late-Twentieth-Century Classification Systems (1950 to Present)
Contemporary Phenetic Methods
Contemporary Phylogenetic Methods
CHAPTER 6 Plant Classification in the Twenty-First Century
Advances in Computational Technology
Advances in Phylogenetic Methods
Advances in Molecular Biology
A Collaborative Approach to Classification: Plant Systematics as “Big Science”
Future Challenges in Systematics
CHAPTER 7 Living Ferns and Other Seedless Vascular Plants (Pteridophytes)
Reproductive Cycle of the Spore-Producing Vascular Plants
Selected Families of Spore-Producing Vascular Plants
CHAPTER 8 Families of the Pinophyta (Gymnosperms)
Reproduction of the Pinophyta
Classification of the Pinophyta
CHAPTER 9 Terminology of Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)
Vegetative Organs
Reproductive Structures
Reproduction of Flowering Plants
CHAPTER 10 Families of Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)—“Basal” Flowering Plants,
Magnoliids, Monocots, and Commelinids
Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants [Angiosperms])
“Basal” Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)
CHAPTER 11 Families of Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)—Eudicots I
CHAPTER 12 Families of Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)—Eudicots II.
Rosids and Eurosids
CHAPTER 13 Families of Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)—Eudicots Asterids—Euasterids I, II
CHAPTER 14 The Literature of Systematics
Indexes for Bibliographic, Illustrative, and Nomenclatural Literature
Terminology and Dictionaries
Specific and Comprehensive Guides
Selected Botanical Journals
Floras and Manuals
Historical Background
Detailed Taxonomic Studies
Basic Systematic Texts
CHAPTER 15 Contemporary Views on the Origin of Vascular Plants
Theories on Origins
Early Fossil Pteridophytes
Early Fossil Pinophyta (Gymnosperms)
Fossil Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Origin of Characteristics
Evolution of Species
CHAPTER 16 Methods for Studying the Systematics of Plants
Plant Anatomy as Applied to Systematics
Plant Morphology as Applied to Systematics
Molecular Systematics
Palynology as Applied to Systematics
Biogeography, Ecology, and Systematics
Cytology and Genetics as Applied to Systematics
Summary
CHAPTER 17 Preserving Plant Biodiversity
Value of Plant Species to Humans
How Species Become Endangered
Current Knowledge about Endangered Plants
Genetic Engineering and Biodiversity
What About the Future?
Individuals Can Help Endangered Wild Plants
CHAPTER 18 The Role of Botanical Gardens in Society
Objectives of Botanical Gardens
History of Botanical Gardens
Survey of Some Gardens
CHAPTER 19 Epilogue
The Relevance of Systematics to Society
Job Opportunities and Qualifications
Summary
Web Sites of Interest
APPENDIX I: Selected References
APPENDIX II: Floras of the World
APPENDIX III: Classification of the Flowering Plants as Proposed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG)
Glossary
Index
