Q. Objectives of taxonomy?
Plants and animals both have a great significance and unparalleled impact on human life. Most of our needs are fulfilled with plants such as foodstuffs, medicinal products, and fodder resources. So the plants whether harmful or beneficial are intimately associated with daily life and that's why it becomes necessary to have an orderly and scientific approach for the study of plants. There are millions of plants in which up to some extent there are differences or similarities but none of them are identical. Thus the individuals showing similarities are placed in smaller groups known as species and these species are placed in larger groups known as genera. The basic knowledge of plants is the first necessity and provides idea about their morphological variations. Various usage of plants in everyday life necessitated formulation of standard terminology for description of various parts as an aid to identification and nomenclature. The systematised study of plants and animals has benefitted all those who are related to forestry, medicine, paper industry and food etc., as it helps them to procure proper material. This is also associated with the study of plant and animal diseases as they affect human economy.
Modern Work is saturated with extensive development of hybrid plants since they are more useful for people as providing better fruit, seed and flower products, and without the knowledge of taxonomy hybridization is not possible. The study of plants also helps in soil conservation as their special features are employed to minimise the loss of soil, and increase the soil fertility. Next comes agriculture and horticulture. Both are interrelated branches of science and have a direct bearing on taxonomy. Fossil identification is possible only when adequate literature on the living plants and animal is available. Identification of preserved specimens is sometimes difficult because of their fragmentary and ill-preserved nature. But the information about them evolves the evolutionary sequence and helps in furtherance of establishing connecting links amongst various taxa.