Application of ordinal clustering to the taxonomy of the genus <i>Entada</i> (Fabaceae) in Taiwan

Authors

  • Sheng-Zehn Yang Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuehfu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
  • Yu-Ying Feng Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuehfu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
  • Fu-Ya Yeh Fooyin University. 151 Chinhsueh Road, Taliao, Kaohsiung 831, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v14i2.529

Keywords:

Entada, Non-metric multidimentional scaling, Numerical taxonomy, Ordinal cluster analysis, Ordinal scaling

Abstract

The importance of a mathematically correct treatment of ordinal information has not sufficient been emphasized. Since ordinal cluster analysis (OrdClAn) and non-metric multidimentional scaling (NMDS) are order-invariant, an attempt has been made to illustrate the previous taxonomic treatments of three species of Entada Adans. (Fabaceae) of Taiwan by these two methods. The genus Entada is represented in Taiwan by E. koshunensis Hayata et Kanehira, E. phaseoloides (L.) Merr. and E. rheedii Spreng. In this study, 29 morphological characteristics and 14 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) representing these three species were selected to construct a primary mixed data matrix. Due to incomplete and limited herbarium specimens, the same local specimens were combined to form 14 OTUs from 62 specimens preserved in several Taiwan herbaria. The characters were measured on binary nominal, multistate nominal, ordinal, and quantitative scales. OrdClAn and NMDS based on Gower’s index were used to evaluate the relationship among the three Entada species from the primary matrix. The cluster dendrogram and the ordination of OTUs showed that the genus Entada obviously can be divided into three groups representing three existing species, therefore, agreed with previous taxonomic analyses.

Key words: Entada, Non-metric multidimentional scaling, Numerical taxonomy, Ordinal cluster analysis, Ordinal scaling

DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v14i2.529 

Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 14(2): 93-100, 2007 (December)

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How to Cite

Yang, S.-Z., Feng, Y.-Y., & Yeh, F.-Y. (2007). Application of ordinal clustering to the taxonomy of the genus <i>Entada</i> (Fabaceae) in Taiwan. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy, 14(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v14i2.529

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Articles

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