queries on rank; the nature of TAXACOM

[p stevens]

I have two (related) queries over which I would appreciate assistance:

1.  Does anybody know of a reference where it is stated that the smaller the
genera, the more features they will have in common?  It doesn't matter
whether the ref. is botanical or zoological.  I seem to remember hearing
about such a statement - perhaps by C. Bremekamp, but I didn't take the
reference, and it was twenty years ago...

2.  More current: references to statements (by evolutionary-inclined folks)
that cladistic studies use only a few characters compared to evolutionary
studies.


Finally, re the recent call for a fine-grained editing of taxacom - I would
argue, most emphatically NO.  Sure, requests to subscribe or unsubscribe can
be weeded out, but nothing else.  So please don't, Jim!

 Peter Stevens (p_stevens at nocsmgw.harvard.edu).