The research behind a taxonomic monograph: a case study from Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae)

Summary: Systematic monographs are an important tool for understanding biodiversity. However, while papers that outline systematic methods for biogeography, phylogenetics and diversification are commonplace, papers that cover methods for monographic and taxonomic research are rare. In this paper, we...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Muñoz-Rodríguez, P, Carruthers, T, Wells, T, Sumadijaya, A, Wood, JRI, Scotland, RW
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024
Description
Summary:Summary: Systematic monographs are an important tool for understanding biodiversity. However, while papers that outline systematic methods for biogeography, phylogenetics and diversification are commonplace, papers that cover methods for monographic and taxonomic research are rare. In this paper, we describe how we conducted a monographic study of Ipomoea, drawing attention to the resources we made use of and the practical steps we took, with a particular focus on how we integrated results from molecular and morphological analyses. The monograph provided a framework for a range of subsequent research, including studies on the origin of the important crop sweet potato. It is hoped that our experience will provide a blueprint for others embarking on the preparation of a systematic monograph.