When did the fascination with phylogenetic trees begin?

[Mike Crisp]

In the current discussion of the origin and rise of 'tree-thinking', I am
surprised that nobody has yet mentioned the important paper by Peter
Stevens (1984). Metaphors and typology in the development of botanical
systematics 1690-1960, or the art of putting new wine in old bottles. Taxon
33, 169-211.  Not only does Stevens cite early examples of phylogenetic
trees, but also he puts tree-thinking into the context of competing
metaphors of natural relationships - networks, ladders and so on.

Mike Crisp


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Dr. Michael D. Crisp
Senior Lecturer in Plant Systematics
Division of Botany & Zoology
Australian National University       Phone int+ 61 6 249 2882
Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia         Fax int+ 61 6 249 5573

  WWW http://online.anu.edu.au/BoZo/profiles.html
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