.Q BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEAAATICS 



Lewis, 1957; Hedberg, 1958; and others), and it is probable that this 

 period has not yet made its total contribution (i.e. in terms of broad 

 principles and ultimate potential). 



The following questions may be raised: Are we really at the 

 beginning of a new period of taxonomic history? Will taxonomically 

 oriented biochemical investigations yield data that make possible 

 a better phylogenetic scheme? Will they give answers to taxonomic 

 questions that previous methods did not permit? Will chemotaxonomy 

 become as significant in the next half-century as cytotaxonomy 

 has during the last? Is the time at hand for this molecular approach? 



We beheve that plant taxonomy is now entering this new 

 phase of biochemical investigation. The purpose of the chapters that 

 follow is to document (though selectively) the present state of our 

 knowledge in this field, to give our interpretations of the significance of 

 certain approaches already in use, to evaluate critically the limitations 

 as well as potential of the field, and, finally, to develop philosophical 

 concepts that might lead to increased activity and more important 

 contributions in the future. 



