Classification and Nomenclature

Abstract

Because of the impact on mankind of so important a factor in his environment it is not surprising that references to plants and trees are to be found in his folklore and in his earliest attempts at recording his experiences in writing or as pictures on the stone wall of his residence. Such references are also scattered throughout classical and medieval literature. Information slowly accumulated amongst early botanists (and also, presumably, amongst early foresters and early woodworkers) but as in every major plant group, this process was much accelerated by the development in 1753 by the Swedish botanist Carl Linne (Linnaeus) of the binomial system of distinguishing species that bears his name and is in universal use today.