Systematic and Phylogenies

Taxonomy: Organizing Organisms

• Hierarchy of ranks: international code of nomenclature

• rank of species serves as the basic unit

  • Kingdom, phylum, family, genus, species

Nomenclature: Describing Organisms

polynomial (outdated method):

• common prior to 1753

• “peppermint” was menthe florins captious foils lanceolatic serrates subpetiolatis

• meaning mint with flowers in a head, leaves lance-shaped, saw toothed, with very short petioles

• names use latin roots (currently as well)

binomial system (current method)

• originated with carols linneaus’ (Swedish botanist) in early 1700s

• check integrated taxonomic information system (it is.gov) for updates to nomenclature and accepted alternative names

• a complete species name consist of

  • Genus

  • Specific epithet

  • author

  • e.g., North America’s “showy orchid” = Galeorchis spectabilis (L.) Rydb.

  • genus = uppercase, italicized

  • species = lowercase, italicized

Nomenclature examples

canidae& ursine: two families in the order Carnivora. Ursus & Helarctos: two genera in the family ursidae. Ursus Americans & ursus arctos: two species in the genus ursus. Violate

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