Category talk:Flora of Togo

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User:Berton added the following to the category page:

This category should include trees and other plants, native or endemic, found in Togo.

This category should exclude plants grown, invasive species or introduced by humans (example: weeds).

Berton, I disagree. Many flora categories also include plants that have become naturalized in that area. And including plants such as Kudzu in Category:Flora of Virginia is, in my opinion, important. I'd agree on crops or horticultural being excluded, but naturalized species should definitely be included. But these are, of course, opinions and should be kept on the talk page unless there is consensus. Best, --Rkitko ^(talk) 17:16, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Rkitko, these is not opinions, but explanations of criteria of exclusion and inclusion in this category with the purpose to better the understanding of topic by people and avoid misapplication. With regard to naturalized species like Kudzu (observe that it isn't included in Category:Flora of Virginia), usually they aren't listed in several Floras (books). I agree, no doubt, that should have consensus, but for while I think that these explanations shoul be kept in category page. Berton 17:44, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Well, kudzu was a bad example since it's not in any flora categories. I don't think the flora categories on Wikipedia are attempting to resemble a Flora book or journal. It's simply a categorization of species that have been reported as being native to/endemic to/naturalized in that specific area. I don't see any problem with that. But that's my opinion of these categorical circumscriptions. I'd be interested to know what others think. I've asked User:Hesperian to join us in this discussion. Best, --Rkitko ^(talk) 17:57, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

The problem with naturalized species is that if they are considered in these Floras categories, will be a strong tendency for overcategorization and besides that will transform the categories Flora by country disharmoniously. See discussion at Category talk:Flora of the Maldives.Berton 18:48, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Another thing, if you will classify a worldwide weed, for example, you will have to classify it at each Flora by country category, where it occurs, this, besides to be non pratical is without usefulness.Berton 19:28, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

In that situation, I find the larger categories like Category:Flora of Europe to be of use. Even though it isn't a weed in every country in Europe, it would still be correct to say that a certain species can be included in the Flora of Europe as naturalized. The large exceptions shouldn't disrupt the rule, though. I would be willing to consider reserving the flora categories for endemic/native plants if we set up a parallel structure under Category:Invasive plant species. Such as Category:Invasive plants of Africa (or maybe not--that sounds like the plants are invasive and from Africa; perhaps Category:Invasive plants in Africa is better). Though I do prefer the way Category:Flora of New South Wales and other Australia flora categories have been set up. --Rkitko ^(talk) 19:52, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

So, I prefer this category: Category:Invasive plant species and its division, and to conserve Flora by countries for species predominantly native/endemic.Berton 21:08, 26 July 2007 (UTC)