Ghillean T. Prance, The New York Botanical Garden

Monographing in the 1980s

DOI

10.5642/aliso.19851102.10

First Page

231

Last Page

242

Abstract

The production of taxonomic monographs is discussed in light of the modern tools that are available for their preparation. There is a great need for more monographs since much of the world's flora is not treated in contemporary revisions. These should be a balance between the traditional aspects that must still be employed such as the nomenclatural framework and the consultation of type specimens, and the use of modem techniques, computer data analysis and field work. The importance of field studies in association with monographic studies is stressed both to give a better understanding of traditional morphological features and to collect material for such aspects as cytology, anatomy, and pollen studies. Techniques that are particularly helpful include chemosystematics, SEM work, anatomy, embryology, palynology, and chloroplast DNA. The availability of computers has come at a good time when there are many more data to analyze. Monographers should use computers both for word processing and data analysis. It is hoped that the new methods and tools will not become an end in themselves since there are still many large plant groups in urgent need of monographs.

Recommended Citation

Prance, Ghillean T. (1985) "Monographing in the 1980s," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 11: Iss. 2, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol11/iss2/10