Q. What do you mean by Alpha Taxonomy?

This relates to the basic or preliminary classification based almost entirely on external morphology. This can be considered as the empirical approach in taxonomy where the classification is synthesised from the observed facts. Alpha taxonomy has also been called Classical or Orthodox or Formal taxonomy. This has been practised since .ancient times and different aspects of this approach are in use even today. The name 'Alpha taxonomy' was given by Turrill (1935), while two phases of development in taxonomy come under this, approach according to other taxonomists such as Valentine and Love (1958), Davis and Heywood (1963). These phases are: i) the exploratory phase involving collection and subsequent classification; and ii) the systematic or consolidation phase involving extensive herbarium collections and field studies for preparing floras, monographs and detailed systems of classification.