ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2991
Session = 4.4.2


CLASSIFICATION BY CONSENSUS: THE IOS APPROACH


David Hunt & Nigel Taylor, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, TW9 3AB U.K.


Since 1984, regular round-table meetings have been held under the auspices of the International Organization for Succulent Plant Study (IOS) to discuss the classification of the Cactaceae. A classified list of genera accepted by all or a majority of the contributors is maintained and periodically updated to provide a more widely acceptable and stable framework for continuing research and discussion than has been available hitherto. Existence of this taxonomic forum has stimulated basic research on various topics, the initiation of the current program of molecular systematic Cactaceae studies at Iowa State University, and the requisition by CITES of a family checklist, now in its second edition. To date, the risk that valid minority opinions may be stifled by the consensual approach, and undue prominence gained by flawed arguments persuasively presented, seems to be outweighed by the benefits it has produced.


HTML-Version made 7. July 1999 by Kurt Stüber