Not as above

[Joseph Laferriere]

On Wed, 6 Sep 1995, Mike Crisp wrote:
> Using only 1 character in a couplet
> (see Laferriere's example below) is risky - the specimen may not show that
> feature, or a simple mistake will more easily lead the user astray.

I agree. Using one character is risky. I constructed my example
using the information someone presented me in a previouis example,
without adding any info. It is infinitely preferable to have more than
one character in case the reader is missing some info. The problem with
the "not as above" construction is that is requires MORE info than the
other way. For example, saying

Flowers pink; fruit a capsule
Flowers blue; fruit a drupe

enables you to identify to identify either a flowering or a fruiting
specimen. Saying

Flowers pink; fruit a capsule
Plant not as above

requires BOTH fruits and flowers.