Plant Systematics and Economic Botany

Paper Code: 
BOT 402
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The objective of this course is to identify thrust areas of modern taxonomy without shifting focus from the traditional ones. With biodiversity and its conservation being areas of prime concern, the identification of plants becomes all the more important.

 

9.00
Unit I: 
Classification

Systems of classification- artificial systems, natural system, phylogenetic system; salient features of the system proposed by Linnaeus, Bentham and Hooker, Engler and Prantl.

9.00
Unit II: 
Botanical Nomenclature

Historical account of nomenclature, ICBN, Principles, rules and recommendations; Principle of priority, type concept, nomenclature of taxa according to their categories, valid and effective publication, author citation, change of rank, nomenclature of hybrids and cultivated plants.

                                                                                                                       

9.00
Unit III: 
Angiosperm Taxonomy-I

Aims and fundamental components (alpha and omega taxonomy) of identification, taxonomic literature, herbaria and botanical gardens. Keys for identification. Study of the following families: Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Malvaceae, Rutaceae, Papillionaceae, Ceasalpiniaceae, Mimosaceae, Apiaceae. 

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
Angiosperm Taxonomy-II

Study of the following families: Asteraceae, Apocyanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Solanaceae, Acanthaceae, Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Liliaceae and Poaceae.

 

9.00
Unit V: 
Economic Botany

Origin, cultivation and uses of wheat, rice and maize, General account of medicinal plants: Sarpgandha, Guggul, Quinine, Ashwagandha, Spices and condiments: black pepper, cardamom, clove and cumin, Oil crops: Sunflower, Safflower, Sesame and Groundnut; Commercial crops like tea, rubber and sugarcane. 

Essential Readings: 
  • Bendre and Kumar, A. 1998. Economic Botany. Rastogi Publications, Meerut.
  • PH and Heywood, VH. 1973. Principles of Angiosperms Taxonomy. Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co., New York.
  • Grant, V. 1971. Plant Speciation. Columbia Davis, University Press, New York.
  • Grant, WF. 1984. Plant Biosystematics. Academic Press, London.
  • Harrison, HJ. 1971. New Concepts in Flowering Plant Taxonomy. Hieman & Co.Educational Book Ltd., London.
  • Kocchar, SL. 1998. Economic Botany in Tropics, 2nd edition. McMillan India Ltd., New Delhi.
  • Pandey. 1993. Economic Botany. S. Chand & Co., New Delhi.
  • Sharma, OP. 1996. Hill’s Economic Botany (Late Dr. AF Hill, adopted by OP Sharma). Tata McGraw Hill Co. Ltd., New Delhi.
References: 
  • Jones, AD and Wilbins, AD. 1971. Variations and Adaaptations in Plant Species. Hieman & Co. Educational Books Ltd., London.
  • Jones, SB Jr. and Luchsinger, AE. 1986. Plant Systematics (2nd edition). McGraw Hill Book Co., New York.
  • Kumar and Suresh. 2002. Economic Botany. Campus books International, New Delhi.
  • Nordemstam, B; El Gazaly, G and Kassas, M. 2000. Plant Systematics for 21st Centuary. Portland Press Ltd., London.
  • Radford, AE. 1986. Fundamentals of Plant Systematics. Harper & Row Publications, USA.
  • Rendel. 1979. The Classification of Flowering Plants Vol. I & II. Vikas Publishing House.
  • Sambhamurthy, AVSS and Subramanayam, NS. 1989. A Text Book of Economic Botany. Wiley Eastern Ltd., New Delhi.
  • Simpson, BB and Conner- Ogorzaly, M. 1986. Economic Botany- Plants in Our World. McGraw Hill, New York.
  • Sivrajan, VV. 1999. Introduction to Principles of Plant Taxonomy (2nd edition). Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
  • Stace, TA. 1989. Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics (2nd edition). Edward Arnold Ltd., London.
  • Takhtajan, AL. 1997. Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants. Columbia University Press.
  • Tyagi. 1996. An Introduction to Taxonomy of Angiosperms. Himalaya Publishing House.
Academic Year: 
2014-2015
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