How do I find the original genus description for a type of flower?

I'm finishing writing a botany paper, and all I need now is the original scientific description. Does anyone have any suggestions? The web is so useless for anything Botany related.

How do I find the original genus description for a type of flower?
I agree with you about the fact that web is useless for the work that you have in mind.





My suggestions-





1) Go to the college or University library of your area ( Nearest to you)





2) Ask for the books on the Regional flora ( The books that cover your area adequately). Or books on Plant Taxonomy , especially of your state or Nation.





3) If you do not get the books that are mentioned in ( 2 ) above , then ask for ANY available Taxonomy or Flora books .





These books always deal with systematic classification of 'Flowering Plants'





You will most certainly get 'original scientific description of the genera '.





The usual titles of such books are something like examples quoted below.





1) Bentham %26amp; Hooker system


G. Bentham %26amp; J.D. Hooker (three volumes, 1862–1883). Genera plantarum ad exemplaria imprimis in herbariis kewensibus servata definita.


(available online at Gallica)





1 a ) Flora of British India by Hooker ( 13 volumes ).





2) Taxonomy of flowering plants by Rendle.





3) A system of plant taxonomy, the Hutchinson system was published in





J. Hutchinson (two volumes, 1926–1934; 2nd edition 1959; 3rd edition, 1973). The families of flowering plants, arranged according to a new system based on their probable phylogeny.


This classification is according to the 1st Edition in 2 volumes, 1926–1934, Volume 1: Monocotyledonae and Volume 2:Dicotyledonae.
Reply:First you need to find out where the name was first published. The best pace to start is online at the international plant name index (see at link). At the "Search plant names" page enter the genus name in the appropriate field. If you only want the generic description, choose 'generic' from the pull-down in the "Show Ranks" field. Hit search.





That is the easy part. The result you get will give you the reference for the original generic description. If the name was published a long time ago, the reference may be a bit cryptic. If it was published recently, the reference will be quite detailed. Now you have to locate the publication. If it is a recent journal you should be able to find it in your college library, but if it is an older publication you will need to find a library that has that book or journal.





I can't help any further without knowing the genus you are searching for.

flower