What is a Species (was Re: Iris setosa)
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: What is a Species (was Re: Iris setosa)
- From: i*@rt66.com
- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 15:47:18 -0700 (MST)
Bill Shear wrote:
>
>The standard idea is that I. setosa was widespread in both NE Asia and
>across North America at various times during the glacial period. Glacial
>advance would have separated western and eastern populations, which then
>evolved enough differences to become separate species (Note that an animal
>taxonomist would not consider setosa and hookeri separate species if they
>could freely interbreed, but plant taxonomists use different criteria).
What are the criteria that plant taxonomists use to determine what is a
species? There seems to be a major grey area in certain wild populations in
determining what are species and what are naturally occuring hybrids. I
guess that's what makes taxonomy fun.
Kay Cangemi
cangemi@ulster.net
New York, USDA zone 5
