Publisher's Synopsis
Modern taxonomic treatments of the grass family (Poaceae, Gramineae) recognize about 10,000 species and as many as 785 genera. This book provides detailed descriptions of these genera, in alphabetical sequence, the descriptions having been generated by computer from a taxonomic data bank. One of the authors has been engaged for some twenty years in compiling data and observations on grass genera, in order to investigate classificatory questions and to explore taxonomic applications of computer methods. The other has worked for a similar time on computer key-making, and has developed the DELTA system for comprehensive representation and manipulation of taxonomic descriptions. They have devised a grass generic character list to cover all aspects of variation in glasses. In this book this list comprises 496 characters, dealing with nomenclature, general morphology, leaf anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, haploid and 2cDNA values, fruit and embryo structure, seeding form, cytology, intergeneric hybrids, phytogeography and distribution, ecology, pathogens, classification and economic aspects. The work is undoubtedly a definitive work, essential for all those with a serious research interest in grasses.
