Re^2: Creating hash: Key is unique string in array element, value is number of times it appears

[johngg]

%genus = { } ; #genus is empty

Let's try that!

knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ perl -Mstrict -wE 'my %genus = {};'
Reference found where even-sized list expected at -e line 1.
knoppix@Microknoppix:~$

You probably meant to use parentheses rather than curly braces, which construct a reference to an anonymous hash.

knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ perl -Mstrict -wE 'my %genus = ();'
knoppix@Microknoppix:~$

I hope this is helpful.