Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarium Vascularium Database Update

[jr19]

The INDICES NOMINUM SUPRAGENERICORUM PLANTARUM VASCULARIUM databases, being
prepared by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and the Norton-
Brown Herbarium at the University of Maryland in cooperation with the National
Agricultural Library, has been updated with several additions. The databases
are available at:

http://matrix.nal.usda.gov:8080/star/supragenericname.html

The first database is a listing of names above the rank of genus for extant
vascular plants. To date, the literature up to approximately 1860 has been
consulted. As in the past, only validly published and legitimate names are
reported. Also, it is important to remember that the data are being
constantly changed as more and more literature is reviewed.

The second database attempts to provide a concordance of all family names
according to modern authors in an expanded format from that presented in the
first volume of FLORA NORTH AMERICA. All of the family names are validly
published (or currently treated in App. IIB of the Code) as if validly
published. A number of additional names are in the process of being
validated by myself and others. These will be added when available.

The third database is a summary, at the family level, of numerous systems of
classification, namely those presented by Brummitt (1992), Cronquist (1981,
1988), Dahlgren (1989a, 1989b), Greuter et al. (1993), Gunn et al. (1992),
Thorne (1992a, 1992b), Watson & Dallwitz (1991, 1995+) and Wielgorskaya
(1995). My own views are also presented. Linear arrangments are given for
Cronquist, Dahlgren, Reveal and Thorne; the others are alphabetical listings.

A new addition to this database are links to the family descriptions
available online by Watson & Dallwitz, the USDA/GRIN generic listings being
compiled by John Wiersema, and a series of illustrations from a variety of
sites.

The fourth database is new. The linear sequences of Cronquist, Dahlgren and
Thorne are outlined in detail at the ranks of division, subdivision,
classes, subclass, superorder, order and family as appropriate. By changing
formats from one author to another, and from one level of ranks to another,
it is possible to do a comparative review of different portions of each
author's system of classification.

In preparing this database, a surprisingly large number of commonly used
names were found not to be validly published. While several are listed here,
a full citation is not yet available for several. As these names have been
in common use for years (in some cases nearly 30 years!), their continued
use here is only a matter of convenience.

HELP buttons with useful (hopefully) information is available on all
databases. As before, additions, corrections and comments may be sent to me
directly.

James L. Reveal
MARY
jr19 at umail.umd.edu