Practice question

Empirical system primarily serves practical cataloguing purpose compiling floristic inventories, checklists, index herbariorum and local floras arranged alphabetically for quick lookup without implying natural relationships or phylogeny. It does not aim at true classification reflecting affinity nor evolutionary studies nor phylogenetic tree construction which require character analysis and homology assessment. Listing of flora in field guides often adopts empirical alphabetical arrangement by family or genus for user convenience especially when audience lacks taxonomic training. This utilitarian role explains its persistence despite scientific inadequacy for reflecting evolutionary affinity, serving documentation and accessibility not research hypothesis.