Travis, you mentioned collaboration in plant naming. That collaboration exists but as far as funding and academic interest the emphasis is predominantly on molecular work rather than the more classical disciplines. In the modern scientific literature no proposed classification system is likely to be supported (published) without a DNA-based phylogeny. In other words, "classical taxonomy" is mostly a thing of the past, at least as far as folks getting paid to do it. The good news is that DNA work mainly supports the existing classifications we are familiar with. Disruptions for us (that are advances to others!) mostly involve ranking and not counter-intuitive readjustments. We may still refer to Galaxia as a discrete group, even if it is recognized these days, more formally, as being included within Romulea. "Galaxia" still has predictive value as a label regardless of rank and this is precisely the intention of taxonomy as a practical way of labeling entities in the natural world. By the same token we may refer to the various new genera split out of Scilla as "scillas" to make it more easily known which bulbs are under discussion, even if the group label is crude by taxonomic standards. Taxonomy serves a dual purpose: to provide a system of naming things and to make a reasonable effort to ensure that this system reflects the natural order, or phylogeny, of plants and animals. These practical and theoretical aspects of taxonomy often are not in perfect agreement and this is to be expected. The consideration of obtaining research funding, as Nhu mentioned, means that the theoretical importance of the work is emphasized over the practical in most cases. In modern systematics the actual use of a particular taxonomy is considered relatively unimportant compared to its significance in providing evolutionary insight. But the taxonomists of yesteryear would have undoubtedly been very happy to have the tools of molecular science at their disposal in order to have a better understanding of how plants are related to one another. Dylan Hannon *"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to its culture…" --**Thomas Jefferson* _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/