Taxonomical Aids

Taxonomical Aids

(1) Several aids help in taxonomic studies like Herbaria, Botanical gardens, Museums, Zoological parks. Monographs etc. Which are helpful in the study of various species of plants, animals and other organisms (that are used in agriculture, foresty, industry) in knowing bio-resources and biodiversity. lntensive laboratory and field studies are required for the identification of organisms.

(2) Certain procedures and techniques have been established by Biologists to store and preserve the information as well as the specimens.

(A) Herbarium

(Sheet size - 29 x 41cm)

(1) lt is a collection of dry, pressed and preserved plant specimens mounted on sheets. Which are arranged according to a universally accepted system of classificatiori. The term Herbarium was first used by Linnaeus The collected specimen is preserved on heavy card sh;ets or placed on liquid preservatives like FAA in case of fleshy succulent material.

(2) The herbarium techniques involve following steps

(i) Collection (ii) Drying (iii)Poisoning (iv) Mounting (v) Stiching ivi) Labelling

(vii) identification (viii) Filing of specimens {ix) Storing (x) Maintenance of index register

(3) Tools for collection of plants :- Vasculum, collection Bags /Polythene bags, Digger for digging, papers, Knife and scissors for cutting  twigs, field not book, glue, pruning shears to cut hard branches, forceps Magnifying lens long poled hook to take out branches from high trees.

(4) Firstly plant part in collected & after that number is given, number & records its information in field note book, Speciman is pressed is between news paper or blotting paper. The dried specimens are poisoned by the use of chemicals like 0.1%MgCl₂ ,DDT. The standard size of herbarium sheet is 29x41cm.Alabelof6.5x10.5cm or 8X:12 attached at one corner of herbarium sheet for providing  various information about specimen. The  sheet is then placed in metal cupboards of herbarium, species, genus and family wise.

Types of Herbaria :

(l) National herbaria have flora of many parts of the world

(ll) Regional herbaria containing plants of a  region

(llI) Local herbaria including plants of a local area.

Botanical Gardens

(1) They are scientifically planned, large sized institutions where plants of different areas and types are grown for identification, classificaiion, conservation, aesthetic, recreation' scientific and educational

purposes'

.

(2)The first garden was developed by Theophrastus(380.2878G) for science and education purposes. The first modern botanical garden of thsworld established in Pisa ltaly in 1543'

Objectives of botanical Gardens :-

(i) Rare and endemic species of plants are conserved under ex situ conservation'

(ii)Thesearehelpfultosupplylivingplantresourcesforresearch,ldentificationandclassification.

(iii)Thesearethesitesofgermplasmcollectionofselectedplantsandtheirwildrelatives.

(iv) They provide materials and seeds for research'

(v) They act as research stations as well as acclimatization centres for the introduction of economically useful plants. They provide aesthetically pleasing environment'

lmportant Botanical Gardens :

(1} Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, England.

(2) Main Botanical Garden, Moscow: lt iS largest botanical garden in the world at present time' It I spreads in 900 acres.

(3) tndian Botanic Garden sibpur (Howrah) Kotkata : lt was established by Robert Kyd in 1787 ' lt spread over 273acres of tano near bank oi hoogly river. lt is largest and oldest botanical garden of lndi and Asia.william Roxburgh (Father of lndian botany) played an important role tn the development t thisgarden be|ween 1793-l8l3.

(4) Natioant Botanic Garden Lucknow (UP)

(5) Botanic Garden FRl, Dehradun

(6) Lloyd Botanic Garden, Darjeeling

(7) Lal Bagh Garden, Bangalore

Special Kinds of Gardens :

(1{)Arboretum: The main collection are of woody species in them'

(2) Bambusetum (Bambuseta) : Main collection of Bamboos'

(3) Orchidariulm (orchidaria) : A garden containing collection of orchids Ex:- national orchidaria BSl, Shillorrg and Coimbatore'

(4) Pinetum : Main collection of conifers'

Museums

These have collections of preserved plant and animal specimens of study and reference. They are centers of research and education. Museums of natural history provide information about local flora and fauna as well as biota of other places. Animals are kept in three forms - skeleton, stuffed specimens, preserved in chemical solutions. Only those plants are kept in museum that cannot be preserved in herbaria. Like Algae, Fungi, Mosses, Fern and part of Gymnosperm.

Natural Historv Museum. United States

United States National Museum. Washinoton

Natioanl Museum of Natural History (NMNH Delhi (lndia

Prince of Walses Museum. Mumbai (lndia)

lndian Museum. Kolkatta (lndia)

Museum of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS Humbai (lnriia)

(D) Zoological Parks

These are protected areas where wild animals are protected by providing conditions as close as possible to natural habitats for public exhibition, for understanding wild life, recreation, education under ex situ conservation.

Scientific purpose of scientific zoo is breed animals which otherwise are facing a threat in their natural habitat.

(3) Largest Zoo of the world is set r"rp in Kruger (S. Africa). National Zoological park, Delhi, established in 1959. lt is one of the finest zoo of Asia.

(E)Keys

(1) Keys are devices used for identification. They are based on contrasting characters and separate

taxonomic keys are required for each taxonomic category like Family, Genus, Species.

(2) Key are generally analytical in nature and represented by the choice made between two opposite

options (contrasting characters). Only one is accepted and other is rejected. lt is of two types.

Ø      Bracketed keys : They are most popular keys in which the pairs of contrasting choices are given numbers in brackets and the user can pick up the correct choice Character

Ø      Indented or Yoked key : tt has sequence of choice between two or more statements of

characters of species.