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Several references enumerate twenty-five species belonging to ''Pachypodium''. Of this numbers of species, twenty are Endemic to Madagascar; while the remaining five originate from continental Southern Africa. One species is a dwarf Plant , the majority are Shrubs , and the remaining are Trees . The keyed characteristics will serve to identify presumably mature Taxon of each species, though it might apply to fairly well developed seedlings. So it is hoped that these Keys will work with less mature plants morphologically as well. This Key to the Species of Pachypodium, composed in 1999, does not list the two added species since the publication of Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, habitat, and cultivation: (I) The new species ''P. makayense'' Lavranos; AND (II) the revised ''P. menabeum'' Leandri. HOW TO USE A BOTANICAL KEY: One uses a botanical key by reading the first set of conditions (clause a) laid out in the numbered heading. If what is being described conforms to the plant's--''taxon''--characteristics, then one follows the ''predicated'' clause, or couplet, to its resulting condition. That condition might be:
Otherwise, if the characteristics in the first clause, or couplet, (clause a) does not describe the taxon, then one moves to the second couplet (clause b). This couplet (clause b) will most likely list characteristics of a plant that are an ''alternative,'' ''opposite'' to the first couplet (clause a). If the first characteristics (clause (a) do not match the taxon, then the second couplet (clause b) of characteristics will often or redirect one to another number further down the key or identify a species (taxon). Again, one, then, follows the predicate condition detailing various options. In some cases; however, when the key lists two couplets (both (clause (a)) and (clause (b)) where the predicate matches no characteristics; then, one simply continues down to the next enumerated pair of clauses or couplets. One, therefore, keeps moving downward through each set of progressive characteristics until ultimately species identification is made within the key. |
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