Plant Systematics

Plant systematics is fundamental for understanding and interpreting the living diversity of the world. In recent years, plant systematics has made rapid progress and has witnessed impressive advances in floristic inventorying, incorporation of new types of comparative data, quantitative concepts, methods of phylogeny reconstruction and classification. In order to disseminate this vast data, there is a need to make available the exciting new developments in the field of plant systematics to the undergraduate and post-graduate students. This book is designed to introduce the students with the fundamentals of systematics in a simple, concise and balanced manner. The book aims to equip the students with the basics of plant taxonomy and at the same time also update them with the most recent advances in the field of plant systematics. The book has been organized into 21 chapters that introduce and explain different concepts in a stimulating manner. The text is supplemented with relevant illustrations and photographs. Relevant literature has been added to provide a better picture of the most recent updates in the field of plant systematics. The language is simple and all the chapters are supplemented with a short summary. A glossary has been added to help the students to understand some important scientific terminology. The book will not only be helpful for the students but also for teachers in training students in a vast subject like taxonomy that requires a detailed understanding of nomenclature, identification, classification, phenetics, cladistics, molecular phylogeny and DNA barcoding.