Scientific Classification Essays - Botanical Nomenclature

Scientific Classification annon Classification is grouping together similar things. It is something that you have done in your daily life since you were a child. There are many different ways to classify organisms. There are aquatic and terrestrial animals. Certain plants can be grouped together as either trees or shrubs according to their outward appearance. Using these methods is useful for some purposes. Generally it is more useful to classify organisms in accordance with their relationships with one another. More to the point the systems discussed today are the ones used universally and based upon Carolus Linnaeus' original work. Carolus Linnaeus is probably the single most dominant figure in systematic classification. Born in 1707, he had a mind that was orderly to the extreme. People sent him plants from all over the world, and he would devise a way to relate them. At the age of thirty-two he was the author of fourteen botanical works. His two most famous were Genera Plantarum, developing an artificial sexual system, and Species Plantarum, a famous work where he named and classified every plant known to him, and for the first time gave each plant a binomial. This binomial system was a vast improvement over some of the old descriptive names for plants used formerly. Before Linnaeus, Catnip was known as: Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatis pedunculatis which is a brief description of the plant. Linnaeus named it Nepeta cataria--cataria meaning, pertaining to cats. The binomial nomenclature is not only more precise and standardized; it also relates plants together, thus adding much interest and information in the name. For instance, Solanum relates the potato, the tomato and the Nightshade. Binomial Classification Early on in naming species taxonomists realized that there would have to be a universal system of nomenclature. Why? For example, it would seem to be a lot less complicated to just give a species a vernacular name that is easy to pronounce. Let's look at the loon of the North American lakes for example. In English it is called the common loon in North America. Seems simple enough, but in England it is called the great northern diver. In French it is plongeon imbrin, in France, and in Quebec le huart a collier. In Spanish it is called somorguajo comun, Islom in Swedish, and Eistaucher in German. So you see how much time and calling the species Gavia immer can save confusion. Binomial classification in its simplest form is a way of naming a species by means of two names both in Latin. (binomial nomenclature) It was first introduced by Carolus Linnaeus. In Binomial classification the first name, which begins with a capital letter is known as the Genus it is always capitalized. The genus is a group of species more closely related to one another than any other group of species. The genus is more inclusive than the species because it often contains many species. The second part of the binomial represents the species itself and is always printed with all letters in lower case. A species is a group of individuals that are alike in many different ways. Individuals are in the same species if they are: 1. Are able to mate with those similar to themselves. 2. Produce young that are themselves able to reproduce. As an example, in the cat family, the genus Panthera is coupled with the species leo to form Panthera leo, the Lion. Likewise, Panthera is coupled with tigris, to form Panthera tigris the Tiger. In simplified terns both the Lion and Tiger share common traits and a common genus - Panthera, whilst clearly remaining separate species. Closely related species are a genus, closely related genera (plural form of genus) are grouped together in a family. Closely related families are grouped into an order, and so on, into more inclusive categories, or levels in the classification hierarchy. Taxonomic Hierarchy Approximately one and a half million species have been classified and there are estimates that over five million species remain to be discovered. For biologists to order this mass of information, a scientific system called taxonomy was introduced. The basic idea is to group species with similar characteristics together into families, and to group the families together into broader groupings. To this end, the taxonomic categories where devised, and they create the taxonomic hierarchy. The hierarchy goes (with an example): *Categories Example Kingdom Animalia Phylum (Plural = Phyla) Cordata *In plants, this category is often called a division* Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Canidae Genus Canis Species Lupus (the Wolf) * Kim Puts Candy Out For Good Students* Every species is in only one genus. Similarly, every genus is in only one family,

Home Alone Quotes

Home Alone Quotes In the 1990 movie Home Alone, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind (via a series of unlikely events) while the rest of his family is on vacation in Europe for the Christmas holidays. Kevin believes the situation is due to his wish that his family would disappear, so (for some reason) does not seem alarmed, and doesnt contact the authorities. Unfortunately for Kevin, two bumbling robbers (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) are casing the neighborhood looking for homes whose occupants are away on vacation. They settle on Kevins house, but he prepares a series of booby traps to keep them from entering. Eventually, Kevins family returns and the bad guys get caught. The movie was a huge box-office success  and launched the acting career of child star Macauley Culkin, who played Kevin. It spawned four sequels, each increasingly more far-fetched (this family cant possibly abandon their child so frequently, after all).   Quotes From Home Alone Kevin: When I grow up and get married Im living alone! Did you hear me? Im living alone! Im living alone! Im living alone! Kevin: I made my family disappear. I made my family disappear! Kevin: Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen. Kevin: This is my house, I have to defend it. Kevin: Hey, Im not afraid anymore! I said Im not afraid anymore! Do you hear me? Im not afraid anymore! Kevin: You guys give up yet? Or are you thirsty for more? Kevin: Down here, you idiots! Come and get me before I call the police! Kevin: Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back. Harry (first burglar): Merry Christmas, little fella! We know that youre in there and that youre all alone. Harry: You bomb me with one more can, kid, and Ill snap off your cajones and boil them in motor oil! Harry: Its too late for you, kid; were already in the house. Were gonna get ya! Marv (second burglar): Yeah, come on, kid, open up. Its Santa Claus... and his elf! Marv: Hes a kid. Kids are stupid. I know I was. Marley (Kevins elderly neighbor): You live down the street from me, right? You know anytime you see me you can always say hello, you dont have to be afraid. A lot of stuff has been said about me... none of its true. Kevin: No offense, arent you too old to be afraid?Marley: You can be too old for a lot of things, but youre never too old to be afraid. Kate McCallister (Kevins mother): This is Christmas, the season of perpetual hope. And I dont care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. Kate McCallister: How could we do this? We forgot him.Peter McCallister (Kevins father): We didnt forget him, we just miscounted.Kate: What kind of a mother am I?Frank: If it makes you feel any better, I forgot my reading glasses.