Archaic classification

Definition of language

'chair': 3-4 legs and some sort of seat

'chicken': two legs, beak, feathers, source of eggs

 

Selective use of characters

Subordination

Class defined by few characters

 

Characters not well defined

'Small' vs 'large'

 

Hierarchy (sometimes nested)

Animal

mollusk

gastropod

Littorina

Animal

mollusk

bivalve

Mytilus

Plant

fruit

berry

strawberry

Plant

fruit

berry

blueberry

Plant

flower

rose

pink rose

Plant

flower

tulip

yellow tulip

Rock

metamorphic

marble

white Carrara

 

Classification is not taxonomy!