Re: Acorus

From: "Dr. Guanghua Zhu" <gzhu at LEHMANN.mobot.org> on 1997.11.04 at 23:40:00(1577) Dear Mike, The width of leaf is very important in the taxonomy of Acorus. However, it can not be used as the only character to name a new species in this case. Yes, the character is somewhat plastic, but it is usually good enough to seperate the two species mentioned. Acorus differs from the other by a very short spathe, which is usually less than twice of the length of the spadix. The spathe of Acorus tatarinowii is a lot longer. The spathe character is the key to tell these two species. There are three new names have been published in the genus since the publication of the Chinese Flora of China. But I personally think there are only three species should be recognized in the genus. Cheers, Guanghua > Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 16:30:56 -0600 +More > Reply-to: aroid-l@mobot.org > From: Mike Bordelon > To: zhu > Subject: Acorus > Thanks to those that checked up on Acorus tatarinowii for > me. > Looking in the Flora of China by Hen Li, A. gramineus has > leaves less than 6mm and A. tatarinowii has leaves greater > than 7mm. Is the width of a leaf a valid justification to name a > species even if all else is the same? Growing conditions can > have a great effect on the size of a plant. > > Mike Bordelon > Botany Greenhouse > Smithsonian Institution > > > Guanghua Zhu Missouri Botanical Garden P. O. Box 299 St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA Phone: (314)577-9454 Fax: (314)577-9438

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