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Date: Mon, 28 Aug 1995 08:52:58 -0700
Reply-To: Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: Horrible keys
Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? Here's my choice:
Awns often deciduous .... Awns much more often deciduous ....
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 11:10:49 +0100
Reply-To: D.R.Morse@UKC.AC.UK
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: D.R.Morse@UKC.AC.UK
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
> >Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? > >Here's my choice: > > > >Awns often deciduous .... > >Awns much more often deciduous ....
There is a little cited paper by Metcalf which (I recall) contains some similar examples, plus some advice on how to write `good' keys:
Metcalf, Z.P. (1954). The construction of keys. Systematic Zoology, 3:38-45.
David. -- Dr David R. Morse, Email: D.R.Morse@ukc.ac.uk Computing Laboratory, Phone: (01227) 764000 extn 7571 University of Kent, Direct dial: (01227) 827571 Canterbury, Fax: (01227) 762811 Kent CT2 7NF. United Kingdom
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 08:16:30 PDT
Reply-To: Barry Roth <barryr@UCMP1.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Barry Roth <barryr@UCMP1.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU> is like:
>Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? >Here's my choice: > >Awns often deciduous .... >Awns much more often deciduous ....
And I'm like:
There must be some mistake. That comes from the opening stanza of that Dylan Thomas poem whose name I forget:
Upon the ragged hill above the town The children in their stockings shout, Awns often deciduous .... Awns much more often deciduous.
Barry Roth barryr@ucmp1.berkeley.edu Research Associate, Museum of Paleontology University of California, Berkeley, CA 94117 USA (415) 387-8538
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 1995 09:00:40 -0700
Reply-To: Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Comments: To: "Frank W. Reichenbacher" <swfbtucs@indirect.com>
In-Reply-To: <199508290629.XAA00221@bob.indirect.com>
I forget the reference. It's something I remember seeing years ago, probably from the old North American Flora. I omitted the reference on purpose because I don't think it is a good idea to poke fun at people by name.
On Mon, 28 Aug 1995, Frank W. Reichenbacher wrote:
> At 08:52 AM 8/28/95 -0700, Joseph Laferriere wrote: > >Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? > >Here's my choice: > > > >Awns often deciduous .... > >Awns much more often deciduous .... > > > > > > C'mon Joe! Give us a citation -- no anonymous nominees. > > Frank Reichenbacher > Frank W. Reichenbacher > Southwestern Field Biologists > >
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 11:24:40 +1000
Reply-To: Murray Fletcher <fletchm@AGRIC.NSW.GOV.AU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Murray Fletcher <fletchm@AGRIC.NSW.GOV.AU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Comments: To: Joseph Laferriere <josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.PMDF.3.91.950828085047.549464307D-100000@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>
On Mon, 28 Aug 1995, Joseph Laferriere wrote:
> Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? > Here's my choice: > > Awns often deciduous .... > Awns much more often deciduous .... >
My vote goes to any couplet the second half of which reads "not as above"
Murray Fletcher NSW Agriculture fletchm@agric.nsw.gov.au
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 08:31:06 -0500
Reply-To: Richard Jensen <rjensen@SAINTMARYS.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Richard Jensen <rjensen@SAINTMARYS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Comments: To: Murray Fletcher <fletchm@AGRIC.NSW.GOV.AU>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950831112355.25795B-100000@quord.agric.nsw.gov.au>
I disagree with Murray Fletcher's view that any couplet having "not as above" is a poor couplet. Some (many, most?) taxa are polythetic entities or are especially variable in individual characters - a simple way to isolate them in a key (rather than following them through all possible leads) is to specify the combination of characters that allows identification. As long as no other taxon in the key has that precise combination of features, then the couplet works, and that's one key to a good key.
Richard J. Jensen | E-MAIL: rjensen@saintmarys.edu Dept. of Biology | TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674 Saint Mary's College | FAX: 219-284-4716 Notre Dame, IN 46556 |
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 13:34:34 PDT
Reply-To: Curtis Clark <jcclark@CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Curtis Clark <jcclark@CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Date sent: 31-AUG-1995 Murray Fletcher wrote: >My vote goes to any couplet the second half of which reads "not as above"
Even worse IMHO is "not in all respects as above".
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Curtis Clark Voice: (909) 869-4062 Biological Sciences Department FAX: (909) 869-4396 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona CA 91768-4032 jcclark@csupomona.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 1995 13:32:34 -0700
Reply-To: Benjamin Martin Waggoner <bmw@UCLINK2.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Benjamin Martin Waggoner <bmw@UCLINK2.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys (fwd)
>Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? >Here's my choice: > >Awns often deciduous .... >Awns much more often deciduous ....
A botanist colleague of mine, Brian Speer, has provided this one, which I am passing on to the greater Internet community:
Seed cone generally torn apart by animals .... Seed cone not torn apart by animals ....
I rarely use keys and so have no couplets of my own to submit. Now if the prize was for Most Inane Character in a Cladistic Analysis, it would be another story. Any nominees in this category?
Ben Waggoner Dept. of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 bmw@uclink2.berkeley.edu
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 13:50:31 -0400
Reply-To: DARBYSHIRES@NCCCOT.AGR.CA
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Stephen Darbyshire <DARBYSHIRES@NCCCOT.AGR.CA>
Subject: Re: Horrible Keys
>Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever >Published?
Maybe not the _most_ useless, but pretty close:
38. Joints of leaf sheaths and lamina somewhat pilose . . . . 39 Joints of leaf sheaths and lamina somewhat glabrous . . . 42
Stephen Darbyshire darbyshires@ncccot.agr.ca
Date: Sun, 3 Sep 1995 16:46:01 -0400
Reply-To: Daniel Janzen <djanzen@SAS.UPENN.EDU>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Daniel Janzen <djanzen@SAS.UPENN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Horrible keys
Comments: cc: josephl@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU, cmrodrig@quercus.inbio.ac.cr,
rgamez@quercus.inbio.ac.cr, apiva@quercus.inbio.ac.cr,
asitten@quercus.inbio.ac.cr, whallwac@sas.upenn.edu,
emata@quercus.inbio.ac.cr, imolina@quercus.inbio.ac.cr,
amatamor@quercus.inbio.ac.cr
1 September 1995 Philadelphia
Joe Laferriere wants couplets? I can beat his example 100-fold over.
Standley's Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Quercus (80 plus species):
the opening couplet:
Acorns take one year to mature Acorns take two years to mature
Asclepiadaceae (huge number of species)
the opening couplet:
Pollen feels waxy to the touch Pollen not waxy to the touch
This was my introduction to real taxonomy in 1963.
Dan Janzen
>Any nominees for the prize of Most Useless Key Couplet Ever Published? >Here's my choice: > >Awns often deciduous .... >Awns much more often deciduous ....
Date: Sun, 3 Sep 1995 17:17:21 EDT
Reply-To: Robin Panza <panzar@CLPGH.ORG>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Robin Panza <panzar@CLPGH.ORG>
Subject: Re: Horrible Keys
One of my "favorites" is from Munz--A California Flora and supplement.
In the "Umbelliferae", the couplet
Plants annual (if perennial, with celery odor and taste). Plants perennial or biennial.
I know someone who wasn't sure if the plant was annual. It didn't smell like celery, so she tasted it. It was Conium (poison hemlock). She managed to make it home before she collapsed. She was hospitalized with paralysis for a couple of weeks, and continued to have nerve and muscle problems for weeks after. All she'd done was touch it to her tongue, spit it out and wash out her mouth (it's apparently quite vile-tasting). Any couplet that can kill a beginner by its ambiguity gets my vote for worst.
Robin Panza panzar@clp2.clpgh.org Section of Birds Carnegie Museum of Natural History 4400 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 11:54:49 +22304443
Reply-To: Neal Evenhuis <neale@BISHOP.BISHOP.HAWAII.ORG>
Sender: Biological Systematics Discussion List <TAXACOM@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU>
From: Neal Evenhuis <neale@BISHOP.BISHOP.HAWAII.ORG>
Subject: Horrible key nomination
In-Reply-To: <v01530502ac70d8edb3fd@[128.227.186.35]>
OK, I've seen enough. Here's a tough one to top. From F.M. Hull's (1973) "Bee flies of the world":
75. Large or small flies . . . . -- Not such flies . . ..
Neal
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Neal L. Evenhuis | tel: (808) 848-4138 Department of Natural Sciences | fax: (808) 847-8252 Bishop Museum, P.O.Box 19000 | email: neale@bishop.bishop.hawaii.org Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-0916 USA | check out the HBS web site below: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <a href="<a href="http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/HBS/hbs1.html">http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/HBS/hbs1.html</a>"><a href="http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/HBS/hbs1.html">http://www.bishop.hawaii.org/bishop/HBS/hbs1.html</a></a>
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