Generic concepts in Australian mosses
Niels KlazengaRoyal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia.
Email: Niels.Klazenga@rbg.vic.gov.au
Australian Systematic Botany 18(1) 17-23 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB04014
Submitted: 3 June 2004 Accepted: 19 October 2004 Published: 29 March 2005
Abstract
The impact of changes in generic concepts as a result of changes in philosophy and methodology associated with phylogenetic systematics on the taxonomy of Australian mosses is discussed. It is concluded that, while phylogenetic systematics has already had a significant impact on the taxonomy of Australian mosses, many taxonomic changes that have occurred in recent years are the result of an enormous taxonomic backlog that is being gradually eliminated. The relative impact of phylogenetic systematics is expected to increase in coming years.
Acknowledgments
I thank Russell Barrett for trying to get perspectives from as many plant groups as possible for this volume, and giving me the opportunity to write about my favourite plant group. Russell also provided me with references to estimates of the numbers of seed plants worldwide and with his own estimate of the number of seed plants in Australia. Jim Ross, Jenny Tonkin and Frank Udovicic kindly read various versions of the manuscript. This article has also benefitted hugely from constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers.
Buck WR
(1994) A new attempt at understanding the Meteoriaceae. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 75, 51–72.
validated 28 October 2004)
Enroth J
(1994) A taxonomic monograph of the genus Pinnatella (Neckeraceae, Bryopsida). Acta Botanica Fennica 151, 1–90.
numbers (last updated: 18 March 2004, validated 26 October 2004)
Zander RH
(1993) Genera of Pottiaceae: mosses of harsh environments. Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences 32, 1–378.
