Plant Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the science of plant classification. The word taxon refers to any taxonomic entity, regardless of rank. In other words, the plant family Ericaceae is a taxon, the genus Vaccinium is a taxon, and the species Vaccinium angustifolium is a taxon. Plant Taxonomy is an old science that uses the gross morphology of plants to separate them into similar groups. Quite often the characteristics that distinguished the plants become a part of their name. This book is not really concerned with taxonomy as a modern science, but is more a reflection of research interests. he aim of being an introduction to taxonomy as a part of contemporary science could be better achieved by reducing the amount of detail in chapters and then using the space gained to present more balanced treatments of recent techniques such as DNA sequencing, cladistics, and biogeography. This book assumes nothing more than the most general knowledge of botany, and it is therefore eminently readable by the general public, but in attempting to distill the essence of taxonomy it's the science that gets short shift. The book contains: -Introduction - Nomenclature and Taxonomy - Vascular Plants - Structural Characters - Biochemical Characters - Evolution and Phylogenetic Relationships - Flowering Plant Taxonomy - Systematic Botany This book is proebably quite acceptable as a textbook, would certainly be better for both class of biologists as well as class of botanists. For students, teachers, scientists, researchers and all others interested in plant taxonomy, will be high value reference results.

Sushmita Prasad born 2nd August, 1956 in Manmad, Maharashtra. She has obtained First Class in M.Sc. From the University of Poona and  later did Ph.D. from the Amravati University, Amravati. She has also guided a number of Scholar for award of Ph.D. Degree in Botany. She taught Botany for three decades at various levels before retiring from the University of Calcutta. She conducted research in various aspects of Botany and garnered a wide experience of research work. She has published over 42 scientific papers and reviews in national and international journals and edited magazines of botany. She has been associated with many scientific organizations and institutions. She is also a member of several scientific societies. She has written four books and contributed several chapters in other books.