Question

Role of phytochemistry or embryology in solving the problem of taxonomy

Answer 1

Phytochemistry (plant chemistry) also plays an important role in systematic botany. This is based on the assumption that related plants have a similar chemistry.

For example, In Lichens chemical methods are used for identification of genera and species. But there is a controversy between Taxonomists as some morphologically similar lichens are chemically different; these two strains are then known as “chemical strains” and not as different species. In recent past at least 80 different lichen substances are identified based on the chemistry of lichens.

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