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[SG] more info on taxonomy

Hi, shadelisters:

I was curious about plant taxonomy (scientific classification), and I poked
around on the web looking for information.  I found a perfectly nice
biologist, who told me:

>Plants are given different names if they
>differ significantly in characterisitics and generally do not interbreed
>in nature (although some exceptions occur).  One name is given to each
>group of plants that is sufficiently different from other such groups of
>plants.  That name consists of the Genus (first name) and specific
>epithet (second name).  The genus name is actually more like a surname.
>Many groups of plants can belong to the same genus, but there is only
>one species name (Genus + species) given to any one group of plants.
>Most groupings today are based on genetics and heredity, whereas in the
>past most groupings were based strictly on external characteristics.

He said that this web site will provide a good, basic intro to the field:

http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/pb250/

Karen. [hope this helps the newer gardeners, who maybe feel like they're
adrift in a sea of botanists]
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