Plant Systematics. The Origin, Interpretation, and Ordering of Plant Biodiversity.

Five chapters provide an overview of the many evolutionary mechanisms that have been operative in the production of plant biodiversity. Six chapters contain information on the concepts and methods of modern phylogenetic reconstruction. Five chapters deal with issues of classification, including historical perspectives and comparisons among phenetic, cladistic, and evolutionary (phyletic) approaches. Three chapters also present types of data, from the morphological to the molecular, which are routinely used in plant systematics research programs. This book, designed for use at the upper undergraduate and graduate levels, contains extensive literature citations that open avenues to topics for further study or analysis. CONTENTS: Preface / Acknowledgments / PART ONE. Biodiversity and Plant Systematics (The importance of biodiversity/ The relevance of systematics ) PART TWO. Systematic Data (The structural world: morphology, anatomy, embryology, and palynology / The genetic revolution: cytogenetics, molecular biology, and population genetics / The environment: phytochemistry, reproductive biology, and ecology) PART THREE. Evolutionary Origins of Plant Biodiversity (Genetic diversity in plant populations /The distribution of genetic diversity within species / Primary or divergent speciation/ Hybridization and homoploid hybrid speciation /Polyploidy) PART FOUR. Phylogenetic Interpretations of Plant Biodiversity (Characters used in phylogeny reconstruction / Methods of phylogeny reconstruction /Support measures/ Congruence and consensus/ Character evolution /Molecular clocks and molecular evolution)PART FIVE. Ordering of Plant Biodiversity (The importance and universality of classification/ Approaches to classification / Species / Subspecies, variety, and form / Genus, family, and higher categories) CONCLUSION. The Relationship and Importance of Plant Systematics to Biodiversity Studies /Literature Cited, Index to Taxa/ Index to Subjects.>

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