Question

A student of taxonomy was puzzled when told by his professor to look for a key to identify a plant. He went to his friend to clarify what ‘Key’ the professor was refering to? What would the friend explain to him?

Answer 1

A key is a useful tool for researching a taxonomic category. A key is made up of two distinct characters. These characters are usually found in pairs, which is known as a couplet. Either of the opposing characters is rejected or accepted while examining a key.

As a result, a decision must be made between the two opposing characters in a key. A lead is a name given to each assertion in the key. It's worth noting that most keys are analytical in character.

Furthermore, distinct keys for different taxonomic categories must be employed. Keys aid in the identification of a certain organism in a step-by-step manner. The presence or lack of a notochord, for example, can indicate whether an organism belongs to the Vertebrate or invertebrate subphylum. Similarly, whether an organism has lungs or not determines whether it belongs to the Tetrapoda or Pisces groups.