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In this article we will discuss about the general and classical literature on taxonomy.
General Literature on Taxonomy:
Taxonomic Literature (TL):
It covers full bibliographical details including precise data of publication as well as biological data of the authors. Taxonomic literature is a series of seven volumes and commonly as TL 2, because it is expanded version of an earlier catalogue.
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The work was compiled by F. A. Stafleu and R. S. Cowan. The work is very useful for locating type specimens of a particular author. Five supplementary volumes of TL 2S were published during 1992-98 after death of Stafleu and Cowan. They were edited by Norbet Killian and Ralf Hand.
Index Nominum Genericorum (ING):
It is the list of all generic names of plants of all groups (Fossil and Recent). It was published by E.R. Far, J. A. Leussinke and F. A. Stfleu in 1979 in 3 volumes. It included all generic names from 1753 to 1975.
Index Kewensis Plantarum Phanerogamarun (IK):
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Generally called Index Kewensis (IK). It is the most comprehensive list of scientific names of seed plants (Gymnosperms and Angiosperms). The first 2 volumes were compiled by J.D. Hooker and B.D. Jackson in 1893-1895 at Kew. It includes generic names in alphabetical order between 1753-1885. Now the Index Kewensis is available in CD ROM also.
Gray Herbarium Card Index:
It lists all names or new combinations including intraspecific names also of flowering plants and ferns of New world.
A Dictionary of Flowering Plants and Ferns:
Lists every family name published since 1789 and every genus since 1753. It was published by J.C. Willis in 1897. The revised enlarged edition was published by H.K. Airy Shaw in 1973.
Index Filicum:
It includes names of all ferns. After 1961 the names of other Pteridophytes are also included in it.
Index Nominum Algorum:
It is an ongoing project producing and maintaining an index of scientific names of Algae (living and fossil). It was initiated by P.C. Silva (1949).
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Index Muscorum:
Consists of 6 volumes of Regnum Vegetable indexing all species and intraspecific taxa of mosses upto 1973.
The Kew Record of Taxonomic Literature:
It is an annual publication listing all periodical articles and books and new names of flowering plants, gymnosperms and ferns of the world.
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Index Lendinensis:
It is an alphabetical Index of illustration of flowering plants, ferns published between 1753-1935, compiled by O.Stapf in 6 volumes.
Draft Index of author abbreviation committed at the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew:
It gives the full name of author, his life dates and standard abbreviation of his name to be used in nomenclatural citation.
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International code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN):
It aims to provide internationally accepted code of practice nomenclature. It lays down the criteria for naming a taxon. The recent edition of ICBN (1994) is known as Tokyo Code.
Index Herbarium:
It is a guide to the location and contents of the world’s public herbaria (8th ed. 1980).
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The families of Flowering Plants:
Published by J. Hutchinson in 2 volumes. The first vol. Includes Dicots and second volume includes all Monocotyledon Families.
The Genera of Flowering Plants:
It was published by J. Hutchinson is 2 volumes in 1964 and 1967; dealing with dicotyledonous plants. It is based on Genera plantarum by Bentham and Hooker.
Evolution and classification of Flowering Plants published by A. Cronquist (1968) providing system of classification.
Outline of the classification of flowering plants written by A.L. Takhtajan in 1980 providing his system of classification.
Classical Literature on Taxonomy:
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Species Plantarum:
It was published by Carolus Linneaus in 2 volumes. First in May 1753 and second in August 1753. Binomial system of nomenclature adopted in it for the first time. It accepted the rule of priority in the nomenclature of flowering plants and pteridophytes. It does not provide generic description.
Hortus Indicus Malabaricus (1678-1703):
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Published in 12 parts containing the account of 794 plants of Malabar region. It is Prelinnean publication and first authentic record of plants.
Prodromus Systamatis naturalis regni vegetabilis:
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Published by AP de Candole, in 17 volumes (1824-1873) providing the account for all species of seed plants.
Monographiae Phanerogamarum:
It was edited by Alphonse de Candolle. It provides monographic account of families.
Genera Plantarum:
Bentham and Hooker published their classification of flowering plants in 3 volumes. Description of all genera are original and in Latin. No key is used in the work.
Die Naturlichen Pflanzen familien:
Published by A. Engler and K. Prantl in 23 volumes. It is written in German Plants are described using dichotomous keys.
Genere Siphonogamerum:
Edited by G.G. Dalla Torre and H. Harne. It follows Engler’s system of classification.
Wallichian catalogue:
It is a list of 9,148 plants collected during Naithaniel Wallichi’s suprintendence of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. Many new plant names proposed in this work are nomen-nudum, i.e., species names without description and contrary to rules of nomenclature.
Icones (Illustration):
BSI published the Roxburgh Icones (1829) in small fascicles in 1964: Wight’s Icons contain 201 plates in 6 volumes.
