Key Communality Cluster Analysis as a Taxonomic Tool

Summary The technique of Key Communality Cluster Analysis developed by Robert C. Tryon is introduced into the biological literature. The value of this technique to biosystematics is illustrated by a study using taxa of the dicotyledonous family Limnanthaceae. Cluster analysis of characters emerges as an efficient way to comprehend the relationships not only among individual characters but among clusters of characters. Five major clusters were found among the 35 characters employed. The method can be used as a context for the generation of ideas and hypotheses on the origin and selective role of the observed character‐clusters. Such hypotheses could then be verified or disproved by subsequent experiments. It can also be used to understand results obtained from a complementary taximetric analysis. Its relationship with other methods of character analysis is discussed.