Plant Taxonomic Database Standards

No. 2. World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, ed. 2.

R. K. Brummitt with assistance from F. Pando, S. Hollis, N. A. Brummitt

and others. 2001. xv, 137 pp.; 17 maps. Stiff paper cover, $10.00. ISBN

0-913196-72-X.

This scheme meets the need for a standard yet adaptable system of

geographical units for use in recording plant distributions and

arranging specimens. Because a purely political arrangement cannot meet

all the needs of botanists, the scheme's arrangement compromises between a

politically and a phytogeographically oriented system. It identifies

geographic units worldwide in a four-level hierarchy, incorporating

continents, regions, provinces and countries. Each geographical unit at

each level has its own numeric or alphanumeric code. The scheme is

presented in five tables, the recognized geographical units are shown in

17 maps, and a gazetteer relates over 2,100 names to the overall system.

The second edition comes some nine years after the first, and,

inevitably includes some changes. Although the need for stability has

been a major consideration, political realignments have forced new

concepts. Some of these have necessitated changes at national level, such

as the segregation of Eritrea from Ethiopia and division of Czechoslovakia

into Czech Republic and Slovakia. Others are due to the recognition of

new administrative units within larger countries, such as Nunavut in

Canada, Uttaranchal in India and Chongqing in China. A few changes also

have been made in order to make better phytogeographical sense, such as

the separation of all Himalayan states from the main body of India, and

the uniting of New Guinea and the Solomons to form Papuasia. Others are

merely a matter of nomenclature brought about by political name changes.

All innovations in the second edition are tabulated to assist database

managers in adapting to the new edition.

Ms. Scarlett T. Townsend

Editor

Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation

Carnegie Mellon University

5000 Forbes Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-268-7304

FAX: 412-268-5677

Web site: http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu