Abstract
An attempt is made to elucidate some of the more pronounced departures from traditional classifications in the book “The families of the monocotyledons” byDahlgren and collaborators, which embodies the latest opinions of the lateRolf Dahlgren on the subject. Consideration is given to the treatment of theLiliiflorae (especiallyLiliales andAsparagales) andBromeliiflorae, and to the theory offered for the origin of the monocots which identifies theDioscoreales as the most primitive order of the subclass.Dahlgren aimed at an “eclectic classification” (one based on a combination of similarity criteria and phylogenetic criteria) and the results of his use of cladistic methods (in association withF. N. Rasumssen) to supply the phylogenetic input are assessed. The resulting system itself is considered in the light of the distinction drawn byJ. S. L. Gilmour between natural and artificial classifications and their respective uses.
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Dedicated to the memory of JohnS. L. Gilmour.
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Yeo, P.F. What is happening to the monocotyledons?. Pl Syst Evol 167, 75–86 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936549
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936549