Tim, Whatever the evidence employed, once substantiated monophyletic groups are worked out then the rank of those groups becomes "academic". Hence the subjective nature of taxonomic schemes and hence the everlasting hope of armchair botanists for more suitable arrangements. Dylan On Dec 12, 2007 9:45 PM, Tim Harvey <zigur@hotmail.com> wrote: > > Oh, I see another genus akin to Euphorbia in the making! I believe some > investigation of these relationships have been done at the DNA level, though > I regard such data as important as other physical descriptors. > > T> Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:40:02 -0800> From: othonna@gmail.com> To: > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Subject: Re: [pbs] Sinking Brunsvigia> > Leo, Jim-- > I've also felt it would be sensible to at least consider this> merger. They > are separated by seemingly non-profound details of the seeds> and the leaves > with midrib (Amaryllis) or without (Brunsvigia), whereas the> traits in > common are overwhelming. Is morphological homogeneity important in> defining > genera? How important?> The same applies to the seemingly artificial > distinction of Hessea from> Strumaria, based on somewhat variable character > states. Carpolyza has> already been lumped under the latter. I suppose the > taxonomists are happy to> rely more on molecular data when the going gets > tough regarding when to> split and when to lump.> Dylan> > On Dec 12, 2007 > 1:23 PM, Leo A. Martin <leo@possi.org> wrote:> > > > One other way to get > more species: given the easy "hybridization" of> > > Amaryllis and > Brunsvigia, I've long been wait > ing for someone to combine> > > those genera: the plants have already > done it, now it's time for the> > > taxonomists to catch up.> > >> > > Jim > McKenney> >> > That would be great! Amaryllis (1753) is so much easier to > grow than> > Brunsvigia (1755)!> >> > Leo Martin> > Phoenix Arizona USA> >> > > _______________________________________________> > pbs mailing list> > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php> > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/> >> > _______________________________________________> pbs mailing list> > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php> > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >