HOME OF CACTUS
BOTANIC
“Gardens are not made by singing
‘Oh, how beautiful!’ and sitting in
the shade.”
Botanical taxonomy delimits
groups of plants and describes and
names taxa based on these groups
to identify other members of the
same taxa. The circumscription of
taxa is directed by the principles
of classification, and the name
assigned is governed by a code of
nomenclature. However, changes
in the principles of classification
and information accumulated
from different sources affect taxon
circumscriptions and, consequently,
the meaning of scientific names.
This process is continuous but, by
governing the application of names,
nomenclature has enabled the
construction of a sizable body of
plant knowledge. Taxonomic works
store botanical information, and
scientific names permit the access
to and linkage of this information
synergistically, thus enhancing the
knowledge regarding plants and
disseminating it in space and time.
5