PhyloCode

The PhyloCode is a formal set of rules governing phylogenetic nomenclature. It is designed to name the parts of the tree of life by explicit reference to phylogeny. It may also be referred to as a cladistics approach.

Unlike conventional scientific nomenclature, the PhyloCode does not use set taxon ranks, and does not require strict taxonomic forms.

Classification in the PhyloCode looks something like this:

Life -> [one or two descending levels of clades] -> Eukaryotes -> [one descending clade] -> Green Plants -> Streptophyta -> [three descending levels of clades] -> Embryophytes -> [ten descending levels of clades] -> Spermatopsida -> [four descending levels of clades] -> Angiosperms -> [one descending clade] -> Euangiosperms -> Eudicots (Tricolpates) -> Core Eudicots -> [one descending clade] -> Rosids -> Eurosids I -> Fagales -> Fagaceae -> Quercus -> Quercus -> Quercus alba L.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Fagaceae Genus: Quercus Species: alba

In conventional scientific nomenclature, it looks like this (note that this is the strict seven-level system in use for many years):

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Rosopsida Order: Fagales Family: Fagaceae Genus: Quercus Subgenus: Quercus Section: Quercus Species: alba

In actual practice, this has been modified to reflect some phylogenetic concerns, like this (note the addition of domain, subkingdom, subgenus, section, and the change in class):

External link

• http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/index.html