Supra-Specific Variation in Nature and in Classification from the View- Point of Botany

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Abstract
Supra-specific variation is complicated among the higher plants by such phenomena as amphidiploidy, whose effect upon phylogenies is briefly discussed. An attempt is made to pass from such special factors and to find general principles underlying supra-specific variation. W. K. Gregory''s two cooperative principles, repetition and emphasis, are found to hold for the higher plants. The botanical evidence suggests that repetition (isomerism) is largely of onto-genetic interest rather than of phylogenetic import. Changes in emphasis (anisomerism) are as important as in the animal world. Anisomerism in the higher plants can be divided into (1) mere changes in proportion and (2) actual differentiation. The possible significance of such differentiation is briefly discussed.

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