TRENDS IN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
57
Museum, are preparing a "Flora of Angola." Work on a large "Flore
du Congo Beige et du Ruanda-Urundi" is pushing forward at Brussels.
In South America there are several large works in progress, "Genera et
Species Plantarum Argentinarum" (1943-), "Flora Brasilica" (1940-),
"Flora of Surinam" (1932-), and "Flora of Peru" (1936-), with others
in preparation on the Guayana Highland (Venezuela) and Santa
Catarina (Brazil). Still others are ready to commence on Venezuela,
Colombia, and the Guianas. A most significant work on the area between
Asia and Australia is the "Flora Malesiana" which is being done under
the supervision of the botanists at Leiden.
The extent of the discoveries yet to be made in the rich but poorly
explored tropics may be exemplified by the situation in Venezuela. A
flora of that country is under preparation as a collaborative project between the Venezuelan government botanists and those at the New York
Botanical Garden. An intensive program of exploration on the remnants
of the great sandstone shield found in the southern half of the country
and in adjacent British Guiana, Brazil, and Colombia has disclosed a
flora so rich that it is estimated that some 4000 species of flowering
plants have already been collected which must be described as new
before this flora can be written. It is obvious that numerous others
remain as yet undetected in a wilderness region so vast.
The work of the taxonomist moves back and forth between floristic
and monographic work. The first accounts of the plants of a region are
usually floristic in nature. On the basis of these, intensive monographic
studies may follow. Finally, these monographic results are again utilized
in revised floristic works.
IV. THE TOOLS OF SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
In studying the relationships of plants one begins by employing the
familiar tools of comparative gross morphology. Similarities and differences are weighed and evaluated. No organ is neglected from the root
to the flower and fruit, and a great deal can be learned about the affinities of a plant from morphology alone. In fact, it is in the morphology
that the taxonomist finds his most important diagnostic characters.
In order to make comparative studies, the taxonomist is directly dependent upon the herbarium. Using suites of specimens from this source
he can study and compare samples of his plants from different parts of
their areas of distribution and gain some notion of the extent of their
variation. If the sampling is adequate he can roughly plot the distribution of the taxon, and determine its ecological preferences and time of
57
Museum, are preparing a "Flora of Angola." Work on a large "Flore
du Congo Beige et du Ruanda-Urundi" is pushing forward at Brussels.
In South America there are several large works in progress, "Genera et
Species Plantarum Argentinarum" (1943-), "Flora Brasilica" (1940-),
"Flora of Surinam" (1932-), and "Flora of Peru" (1936-), with others
in preparation on the Guayana Highland (Venezuela) and Santa
Catarina (Brazil). Still others are ready to commence on Venezuela,
Colombia, and the Guianas. A most significant work on the area between
Asia and Australia is the "Flora Malesiana" which is being done under
the supervision of the botanists at Leiden.
The extent of the discoveries yet to be made in the rich but poorly
explored tropics may be exemplified by the situation in Venezuela. A
flora of that country is under preparation as a collaborative project between the Venezuelan government botanists and those at the New York
Botanical Garden. An intensive program of exploration on the remnants
of the great sandstone shield found in the southern half of the country
and in adjacent British Guiana, Brazil, and Colombia has disclosed a
flora so rich that it is estimated that some 4000 species of flowering
plants have already been collected which must be described as new
before this flora can be written. It is obvious that numerous others
remain as yet undetected in a wilderness region so vast.
The work of the taxonomist moves back and forth between floristic
and monographic work. The first accounts of the plants of a region are
usually floristic in nature. On the basis of these, intensive monographic
studies may follow. Finally, these monographic results are again utilized
in revised floristic works.
IV. THE TOOLS OF SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
In studying the relationships of plants one begins by employing the
familiar tools of comparative gross morphology. Similarities and differences are weighed and evaluated. No organ is neglected from the root
to the flower and fruit, and a great deal can be learned about the affinities of a plant from morphology alone. In fact, it is in the morphology
that the taxonomist finds his most important diagnostic characters.
In order to make comparative studies, the taxonomist is directly dependent upon the herbarium. Using suites of specimens from this source
he can study and compare samples of his plants from different parts of
their areas of distribution and gain some notion of the extent of their
variation. If the sampling is adequate he can roughly plot the distribution of the taxon, and determine its ecological preferences and time of