Product Description

A comprehensive introduction to vascular plant phylogeny, the third edition of "Plant Systematics" reflects changes in the circumscription of many orders and families to represent monophyletic groups, following the most recent classification of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. Molecular taxonomic methods are fully presented, as are the results of many recent studies, both molecular and morphological.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33575 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 620 pages

Review
" ... There is much to laud in this work." -- Mark Fishbein, The Quarterly Review of Biology

About the Author
WALTER S. JUDD, University of Florida, USA. CHRISTOPHER S. CAMPBELL, University of Maine, USA. ELIZABETH A. KELLOGG, University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA. PETER F. STEVENS, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri Botanical Garden, USA. MICHAEL J. DONOGHUE, Yale University, USA.

Customer Reviews

On modern plant taxonomy
There seems to be a pretty universal agreement that this is the book to have for those who want to keep up with what is happening in modern plant systematics. It is a wonderfully concise text that clearly states principles and gives good practical examples. Also it gives a good overview of the main groups in the APG-system (based on three genes combined with more traditional taxonomical characters). The conciseness is also, in a way, its weak point. It leaves out much that traditionally belongs in basic taxonomy texts, so that it is dubious how well this work is suited as an introduction to plant taxonomy. The many plant groups that are not treated detract from its usefulness as "system book". Another quibble is that the illustrations (line drawings) are all borrowed from other sources, so that style and quality varies.

Second (& third) edition
The second edition (2002) has been much expanded (from 464 to 576 pages) and has been adjusted to keep up with the (headlong) developments in this field. It also includes more descriptions of families.

In some ways the book has not changed. The same illustrations were used giving it the same look. It remain an introductory book, that although set up along the lines of a systembook is only of limited use as such, since coverage is far from complete. The Appendix on "Botanical nomenclature" is still a soft spot. Not only is the (badly) erroneous bit on the naming of cultivated plants still there, but the slanted view of the ICBN has worsened (the ICBN even being called "Linnaean"!) and the PhyloCode is plugged.

However this remains the foremost textbook for those wanting a start in plant taxonomy, a field that is changing ever more rapidly.

The third edition (2007) is expanded yet again (to 612p). The most noticeable changes are the introduction of color, and a different, thinner kind of paper for the pages. Although it has more pages, the third edition is slimmer than the second. The printing quality of the (newly introduced) color photographs is quite decent, probably better than in the book by Simpson, although that has more photographs. In addition color is used to support the text and the occasional diagram, making this a brighter-looking book than the second edition.

The system followed is based on APG II (2003), while the second edition was close to APG I (1998) and included such families as Cecropiaceae and Celtidaceae, which now are out. A change from APG II is in the clade names such as fabids (instead of eurosids I) and campanulids (instead of euasterids I) which certainly is more user friendly.

Nevertheless, there is a strong continuity with the second edition, using the same line drawings as the main illustrations and with much of the text essentially the same.

Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach
Judd et al.'s text is the best systematics textbook I've encountered. The writing is very readable and understandable for both the undergraduate and graduate level. This book would be a good thorough text for either an undergraduate or graduate plant taxonomy course. In addition, it's a valuable addition to the shelves of professionals who utilize plant systematics in their work. It works well both as a reference and a straight-through read. Judd et al. use the theory-grounded, or phylogenetic approach to plant systematics and classification. This means that evolutionary assumptions are made in classificatory schema. While their theoretical approach is explicitly stated and supported, the authors also present the alternative opinions. The text begins with a basic explanation of the field, then gives an insightful history of plant taxonomy, classification, and systematics. Specific problems and solutions for the plant kingdom follow. The information is very clearly presented and up to date, stressing an understanding of process.