Thonner’s analytical key to the families of flowering plants R. Geesink A.J.M. Leeuwenberg C.E. Ridsdale J.F. Veldkamp PUDOC, Centre for Agricultural Leiden University Press Publishing and Documentation The Hague/Boston/London, Wageningen, 1981 1981 R. Geesink-Rijksherbarium, Leiden, Netherlands A. J. M. - Laboratorium Planten- Leeuwenberg voor Plantensystematiek en geografie, Agricultural University, Wageningen, Netherlands C. E. Ridsdale-B. A. Krukoff Botanist of Malesian Botany, Rijksherbarium, Leiden, Netherlands J. F. Veldkamp-Rijksherbarium, Leiden, Netherlands This volume is listed in the Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data This is a translated and revised edition of: Anleitung zum Bestimmen der Familien der Bliitenpflanzen, 2nd. ed. 1917, Friedlander, Berlin ISBN 90-6021-479-X ISBN 90 - 6021-462- 5 (series Leiden University Press) © Centre for agricultural publishing and documentation, PUDOC, Wageningen 1981 and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague, 1981 stored All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, P.O. Box 566, 2501 CN The Hague, The Netherlands, and PUDOC, P.O. Box 4, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands Printed in the Netherlands Contents Preface to the2nd edition (1917) vii Introduction viii Acknowledgements x Franz Thonner-Life (1863-1928) xii Franz Thonner-Bibliography xv Franz Thonner-Derivedworks xviii Franz Thonner-Eponymy xx The Key - Introduction and Notes xxii Scheme for a diagnostic description xxvi Concise key to the major groupings 1 Key to the families 3 Glossary 198 Index 214 'All plants are hybrids, but some are greater bastards than others' Franz Thonner. 1910. Photo L. Grillich, Vienna. Original in Library of the National Botanical Garden of Belgium. Preface to the 2nd edition (1917) While most European floristic works contain keys for the identification of families, genera, and species, extra-European ones usually have the keys re- placed by a systematic survey, which makes it cumbersome to identify the family to which the plant under investigation belongs. It is, of course, often possible to recognize it immediately by the presence of a conspicuous charac- ter, but there are also many cases in which it is not that easy, and then written in work is desired. The few works of aid such as given the present this kind presently available generally consider the typical features of the family only, while they neglect the numerous exceptions. In the present work, however, especially in the second edition, all exceptions have been considered as far as possible, the less significant ones in footnotes, 1 so that plants with characters that different from the for the also be are ones typical family may identified correctly. In the choice of differentiating characters those have been preferred that with can be seen in a flowering plant the naked eye. As far as nomenclature, delimitation, and description of the families are concerned Engler and Prantl's natiirlichen has been used the basis for the revision Die Pflanzenfamilien as of in other manuals have been the present work; addition, however, many con- sulted, especially Bentham and Hooker's Genera plantarum, De Candolle's Prodromus, , Baillon's Histoire des and Engler's as well plantes, Pflanzenreich , as various floras. 2 The key is followed by a description of all families of flowering plants, which mainly serves to check the result of the identificationfor its correctness, as well as an explanation of the most important botanical technical terms in the book. The addition of has been occurring figures decided against; one finds suitable in der ones especially Engler's Syllabus Pflanzenfamilien. Vienna, in May 1917 Franz Thonner 1 Incorporated into the key in the current edition. 2 Omitted in the current edition. VII Introduction the identificationof the first For a flowering plant step usually is to discover which With the families to family it belongs. some experience, commonly encountered in one’s of interest area are soon known, but when dealing with specimens from other places, notably those from the vast and rich subtropics and tropics, there is much less certainty. The pertinent literature is often not available it is often found in readily as only expensive, rare or obscure books, or journals, present only in a few specialized institutes. Basically only a few keys to the families of flowering plants of the world have ever been produced, the best known of which at present is Hutchinson’s Key to the families of flowering plants (1973); less well-known are Lemée’s Tableau analytique des genres monocotylédones (1941) (incl. Gymnosperms) and his Tableau des analytique genres dicotylédones (1943), and Hansen and Rahn’s Determination of Angiosperm families by means of a punched-card system (Dansk Bot. Ark. 26, 1969, with additions and corrections in Bot. Tidsskr. 67, and Ibid. 74 Of also 1972, 152-153, 1979, 177-178). note are Davies and Cullen’s The identification offlowering plant families, 2nd ed. (1979), which, deals with however, only the familiesnative or cultivated in North Temperate and Chaves de de regions, Joly’s identifição das famílias plantas vasculares que ocorrem 3rd ed. which no Brasil, (1977), may be useful in other tropical areas too. There are a number of excellent keys prepared by an Austrian, Franz Thonner which deal either with (1863-1928), European genera (1901, 1903, 1918), or African ones (1908, 1913, 1915), or with all families of the world of been (1891, 1895, 1917). Some these have apparently completely over- looked, others have been known only to a few, and then sometimesserved as a base for keys of their own, thereby again influencing keys by others (see Derived works). At Dutch Universities extensive has been of use long made the Anleitung zum Bestimmen der Familien der Bliitenpflanzen, 2nd ed. (1917, Friedlander, which Berlin), to our experience has proven to be the most reliable work in existence. Of course, as the keys deal with a highly complex subject, they require close attention for a profitable use. They may therefore perhaps have scared off even professional botanists, who then had to take recourse to other simpler and therefore less dependable ones. In a few places, Thonner's keys were better appreciated and even introduced in undergraduate courses, for VIII instance by Pulle and his school in the Netherlands, by Sdrensen in Copenhagen, and in Brazil at first by an unknown translator and later by Rawitscher, Alvim and Joly. Elsewhere the Anleitung (1917) has been little it is in German. known, rare and, for many, inaccessible, as worthwhile translate it into A It seemed, therefore, a venture to English. made in the but other start was by Leeuwenberg early 1960s, obligations soon About twelve later, he mentioned this in a casual delayed progress. years conversation with Geesink and Ridsdale, who had just begun a translationof their own, and his efforts were thankfully incorporated. Veldkamp joined shortly afterwards. It rapidly became apparent that mere translation would be unsatisfactory: the innumerablefootnotes shouldalso be worked into the main key; the nomenclature should be brought up to date; and something should be families since done about the many new accepted by some authors Thonner's have restricted ourselves those mentioned time. For the latter we largely to by Airy Shaw in his revision of Willis' A dictionary to the families of the flowering plants and ferns, 8th ed. (1973) and Hutchinson's The families of flowering plants, 3rd ed. (1973), these being currently the most consulted manuals. These 'segregated' families have now all been accounted for. We have also tried to check the many curious or aberrant genera, but have undoubtedly missed many. The keys have not become easier because of all these additions.The numberof'key couplets has increased from 812 (excluding in the 1917 2117 in footnotes) edition, to the present one. Nevertheless, they identification provide a useful means of and force students as we know from make clear and careful and of experience, to a analysis logical interpretation the various parts of the plant. We hope that all those interested through profession or hobby may be aided in a rapid identification of their material, and that we have made Franz Thonnerand his works slightly better known and appreciated. We invite the user to point out errors, difficulties, and omissions. It should then be indicated in which couplets difficulties arose with a suggestion as to how they might be remedied. A representative specimen would be useful, loan. assistance will be even if only on Any acknowledged in future editions. Geesink Communications should be sent to R. or J. F. Veldkamp, Rijksherbarium, Schelpenkade 6, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands. Leiden, September 1980 IX Acknowledgements about 30 his Thonner spent years creating Anleitung (1917), apparently without much outside help. We were more fortunateand had others to advise and assist us. First of all we thank theDirector, Staff, and students of the Rijks- herbarium, Leiden, for providing the facilities, expert knowledge, and trial runs of the key, respectively. Other help was promised by many,but given by few. We had many helpful suggestions and criticisms but have applied the made remarks in our own fashion, hence all mistakes and misinterpretations should be attributed to us. Our sincere thanks are due to R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr. (Leiden, various), M. M. J. van Balgooy (Leiden, Elaeocarpaceae, various), G. M. Barroso (Rio de Janeiro, Lepidocordia), B. G. Briggs (Syd- Proteaceae, R. Thonner/De Wildeman ney, Restionaceae), Clarysse (Meise, correspondence), M. J. E. Coode (Kew, Elaeocarpaceae), T. A. Cope (Kew, various), T. B. Croat (Saint Louis, Araceae), P. J. Cribb (Kew, Orchidaceae), F.