Artificial System |
Linnaeus |
Gross superficial morphological characters such as habit, colour, number and shape of leaves; based mainly on vegetative characters or androecium structure |
- Simple and easy to use
- Quick identification
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- Separates closely related species based on a few characteristics
- Gives equal weightage to vegetative and sexual characteristics
- Vegetative characters are often more easily affected by the environment
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Natural System |
George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Natural affinities among organisms, considering external features as well as internal features such as ultrastructure, anatomy, embryology, and phytochemistry |
- More accurate and reflects true relationships based on multiple traits
- Considers a wide range of characteristics
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- More complex and time-consuming
- Requires detailed examination and analysis
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Phylogenetic or Cladistics |
Hennig and others |
Evolutionary relationships and common ancestry |
- Reflects evolutionary history
- Utilizes molecular data, fossil records, and genetic information
- Helps in understanding the evolutionary process
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- Requires extensive data
- Sometimes lacking fossil evidence
- Complex data analysis
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Numerical Taxonomy |
Modern Taxonomists |
Based on all observable characteristics using numerical methods and computer processing |
- Each character is given equal importance
- Allows the consideration of hundreds of characters simultaneously
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- Requires extensive data input and processing
- Can be complex to implement without proper computational tools
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Cytotaxonomy |
Modern Taxonomists |
Based on cytological information such as chromosome number, structure, and behavior. Chromosomal structure includes the number, size, shape, and structural variations of chromosomes, while chromosomal behavior includes pairing, segregation during meiosis, and inheritance patterns. |
- Provides detailed genetic and chromosomal information
- Helps resolve complex taxonomic issues by understanding genetic compatibility and evolutionary relationships
- Chromosomal behavior helps in understanding inheritance patterns
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- Requires specialized cytological knowledge and equipment
- Data collection can be labor-intensive
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Chemotaxonomy |
Modern Taxonomists |
Uses chemical constituents of plants for classification |
- Helps resolve confusions based on chemical profiles
- Can be used alongside other taxonomic methods for more accurate classification
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- Requires detailed chemical analysis
- Specialized equipment and expertise are necessary
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