Genera Graminum Edition 2

Cortaderia sp. Photo: S. Renvoize.

At the end of 1986 W.D. Clayton and S.A. Renvoize published a revision of the world's grasses at generic level (Genera Graminum).  This was the first such account for over a century and broke new ground with respect to the suprageneric classification of grasses.  A great deal of new information on physiological pathways and the anatomical symdromes that reflected them were incorporated, all genera being surveyed anew for their anatomy by Steve Renvoize.  The classification so produced was ground-breaking and has largely stood the test of time.  In all, 651 genera were accounted for, being placed in 40 tribes and six subfamilies.

The account is now 20 years old and taxonomy has not stood still in the meantime.  New avenues have opened up for exploration, particularly the field of molecular phylogenetics.  Agrostologists from the around the world have met these new challenges with enthusiasm although on occasion it has been felt that the results have been pulling us away from a practical, predictive taxonomy.

A new edition of Genera Graminum is now in preparation.  It will look afresh at the genera that were recognised in the first edition, will add the numerous genera that have been described since, and will reconsider the value of the existing tribal and sub-familial classification.  Agrostologists from around the world are being consulted for their views, from which a consensus will be reached