How Are New Plant Genera Found?
Occasionally new plant genera are found in the wild. More frequently, however, new genera are identified in the laboratory as a result of molecular genetic studies. These studies examine the genetic relationships among plants using DNA, and can determine whether plants that look alike really are the same genetically. How Often are New Genera Found ? The answer is … “it depends”. It is very rare to discover a new genus of mammals, but much more common to discover a new genus of bacteria. Kress estimates that for every 1000 new species discovered in the plant kingdom, someone will discover one new genus. Discovery rates also depend upon the part of the world under study.
