A spreadsheet dealing with standard deviations allows statistical examination of continuous variables associated with paraphyly in systematics, with examples in the Pottiaceae (Bryophyta). Outlier values in taxonomic representation of distribution with the structure of (w–)x–y(–z) of continuous variables can be empirically supported. The use of the geometric mean and intuitional estimation is reexamined. Published reports of the distance between maximally distant exemplars of individual paraphyletic species in molecular cladograms in several studies were reevaluated as metadata. Levels of standard deviations were assigned with the Running Sigmas spreadsheet. |
