Skip to content
Login Register

#artificial classification

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Classification Basic

Linnaeus classification is an example of

Carolus Linnaeus Systema Naturae and Species Plantarum classified flowering plants into twenty-four classes based solely on number, length and union of stamens such as Monandria single stamen, Diandria two, Polyandria many and subclasses based on pistils. Using limited sexual characters it constitutes classical artificial system despite immense contribution of binomial nomenclature and hierarchical ranks. Natural system Bentham Hooker used multiple correlated characters, phylogenetic Engler Prantl used evolutionary descent, numerical Sokal Sneath equal weighted phenetics. Artificial nature explains grouping of monocots with dicots having same stamen number, highlighting its heuristic key purpose rather than natural relationship reflection.

Ref: Linnaeus Species Plantarum 1753; Lawrence Taxonomy, Artificial sexual system

View Details
Classification Basic

Artificial classification is based on

Artificial classification groups organisms using one or very few conspicuous morphological traits arbitrarily selected such as growth habit herb shrub tree, flower colour, leaf shape or number of stamens as in Linnaean sexual system. It ignores overall affinity and converges unrelated plants sharing single trait creating polyphyletic assemblages. All characters approach describes natural system, DNA data phylogenetic modern molecular, phylogeny phylogenetic system based on common descent. Artificial systems easy to construct using keys but produce unnatural groupings, example Linnaeus 24 classes based on androecium counts. Serves convenient identification but fails to predict other characters, superseded by natural systems Bentham Hooker.

Ref: Simpson Plant Systematics, Artificial classification few characters Linnaeus sexual system

View Details