Why did Carolus Linnaeus consider Genera Plantarum his crowning taxonomic achievement?

Carolus Linnaeus considered Genera Plantarum (1737) his crowning taxonomic achievement because it moved beyond the arbitrary divisions found in earlier botanical systems, including his own "sexual system" of classification.1

Instead, Genera Plantarum utilized what Linnaeus termed "natural characters"—comprehensive morphological descriptions encompassing all parts of a plant's flower and fruit. By focusing on these natural characteristics rather than arbitrary criteria, the system provided a robust framework capable of accommodating the vast influx of new species arriving in Europe from overseas colonies and trading posts. While Linnaeus is often celebrated for his "sexual system," he did not view that method as his primary contribution to the "reformation of botany," preferring the more rigorous, natural approach established in Genera Plantarum.1