A linear sequence to facilitate curation of herbarium specimens of Annonaceae

Lars W Chatrou,Ian M Turner,Bente B Klitgaard,Paul J M Maas,Timothy M A Utteridge

doi:10.1007/s12225-018-9764-3

Lars W Chatrou, Ian M Turner + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-018-9764-3

Copy DOI

Abstract

Summary. This paper provides a linear sequence of four subfamilies, 15 tribes and 106 genera of the magnoliid family Annonaceae, based on state-of-the-art and stable phylogenetic relationships. The linear sequence facilitates the organisation of Annonaceae herbarium specimens.

Highlights

Plant taxonomy is a scientific expression for one of the defining characteristics of the human species: observing, assembling and classifying
The sexual system published by Linnaeus (1753) in his Systema Naturae is the classical example of a classification system that has been designed for convenience, most notably to facilitate plant recognition and identification, and unequivocal communication about plants
By pressing plants and storing them in a book, he invented the herbarium. It is in this era that botanic gardens, illustrated botanical publications, and herbaria were established as a trinity of resources for botanical sciences, a foundation that is still fundamental to botanical research today

Summary

Introduction

Plant taxonomy is a scientific expression for one of the defining characteristics of the human species: observing, assembling and classifying. The ordering of the plant world has been attempted ever since the origin of modern man, and even before. From Theophrastus onwards, in the fourth century BC, botanists have attempted to organise plants into classification systems. In Linnaeus’s time the practice of drying and conserving plants for future study was well established. In the first half of the 16th century, the Bolognese botanist Luca Ghini introduced a new way of studying plants by making the earliest hortus siccus. By pressing plants and storing them in a book, he invented the herbarium. It is in this era that botanic gardens, illustrated botanical publications, and herbaria were established as a trinity of resources for botanical sciences, a foundation that is still fundamental to botanical research today

39 Page 2 of 10

39 Page 4 of 10

39 Page 6 of 10

39 Page 8 of 10