This program will explain and richly illustrate the system of taxonomic classification (and nomenclature) in nontechnical language, explain its purpose, extol its benefits, and decry its considerable shortcomings. It will begin by reviewing an animal classification system, which everyone actually already knows (e.g., dogs, cats, hoofed animals). Mark will then transfer this innate knowledge to the plant kingdom, with emphasis on succulents. He will show how to identify several of the plant families that we grow. Finally, he will explain the value of having some basic knowledge of plant nomenclature when purchasing plants for your collection (and fruits for your table).

Mark Dimmitt, Ph.D. formally majored in zoology throughout his college career, but also studied botany and ecology extensively. After earning his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California at Riverside, he spent four years as a vertebrate ecologist in the California Desert District of the Bureau of Land Management. He moved to Tucson in 1979 to become Curator of Botany at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and in 1997 he became the Director of Natural History. This position allowed him to conduct field research and share oversight of the scientific aspects of the museum's operations. Mark has published numerous popular articles on horticulture (he is an avid plant hybridizer) and several articles on desert ecology. He is also the creator of the 'Desert Museum' hybrid Palo Verde. He is well known for his hybrids, especially his study of the adenium and various cacti. In 1999, he received the Friend Award from The Cactus and Succulent Society of America for his outstanding accomplishments with cacti and succulents. He has also co-authored a new book, "Adenium: Sculptural Elegance, Floral Extravagance".

Mark is an excellent speaker and will deliver a program that should be extremely educational to everyone. Be sure to mark you calendar now and join us on "April Fool's Day" for a program you will really enjoy.