泰奥弗拉斯特对植物类别的划分及其原则

Theophrastus' Classification of Plant Categories and the Principles

类别划分是泰奥弗拉斯特植物研究所采用的重要方法之一。他依据多种原则对地中海植物进行大致分类,综合且直观地体现了植物在整体形态、植物部分特性、生长环境、动态发育、实际用途等方面的特征;进而更为集中地讨论各类植物的共性和差别,有效促进了对植物本性的探究。这种多原则综合使用的分类方法成为前林奈时期西方植物分类的经典模式之一,而泰奥弗拉斯特本人并未尝试构建单一原则指导的层级式植物分类体系。

Category classification was one of the crucial methods used by Theophrastus in his study of plants. Based on a variety of principles, he broadly classified the Mediterranean plants, provided a comprehensive and visual representation of the characteristics of plants in terms of their overall morphometrics, the features of their parts, the environment in which they grew, their dynamic development and their practical uses. He thus gave a more focused discussion of the commonalities and differences between the different types of plants, and effectively facilitated the exploration of their nature. This multi-principled approach became one of the classic models of Western plant classification in the pre-Linnaean period. While Theophrastus himself did not attempt to construct a hierarchical system of plant classification guided by a single principle.