On Exact Methods in Systematics

Abstract

The author expounds the main ideas and methods of his conception of exact systematics. The leading principle of his system is an objective evaluation of characters according to their frequency. Thus, the author calls in question the Adansonian principle of equal weights of characters. The indices recommended by the author—indices t—serve for quantitative characterization of taxonomic relationships as well as for evaluating the originality of objects under consideration. The problem of partition of taxa (in general form) is also discussed in the article, and some examples illustrating the recommended methods are given.