COMPARATIVE ACCOUNT OF CLASSIFICATIONS

Bentham and Hooker Engler and Prantl

This system is based on de Candolle’s This is based on Eichler’s system

system
Based on the dogma of fixity of species Based on Darwinian theory of descent
It is a Natural system. Flowering plants It is a Phylogenetic system. It is based
are divided into a large number of groups on the assumption that the flowering
based on mainly single and mostly plants where perianth is absent and
Artificial Characters. As a result closely phylogenetically primitive. Evolution of
related families are widely separated. angiosperms is on polypheletic lines.
It was published in Genera plantarum It was published in Die Naturlichen
(1862-1883).It includes 202 families. Pflanzen Familien. There are 330
families in this system.
The monocotyledons are placed after The monocotyledons are placed before
dicotyledons. dicotyledons on idea which gets little
support from recent work on fossil
record.
Only phanerograms are classified. The entire plant kingdom is classified.
Gymnosperms are placed in between Gymnosperms are recognised as more
dicots and monocots. primitive than angiosperms.
Dicotyledons are classified into The dicots include Archichlamydae and
Polypetalae, Gamopetalae and Metachlamydae
Monochlamydae.
The dicotyledons begin with Ranales Amentiferous families with naked,
comprised of Ranunculaceae and allied unisexual flowers and syncarpous
families, characterised by Apocarpy and gynoecia are placed before families such
Hypogyny of the flower. Present evidence as Magnoliaceae and Ranunculaceae.
also shows that Ranales are primitive. Recent evidence shows Amentiferous
flowers are derived by reduction.
The families with polypetalous and The Polypetalae and Monochlamydae
sympetalous corollas are included in Series are mixed under the single group
Polypetaleae and Gamopetalae Archichlamydae while Metachlamydae
respectively. include those families with sympetalous
Monochlamydae is retained as a group corollas.
apart from polypetalous.
The families of monocotyledons are The families of monocotyledons are
arranged as in seven series, none of which arranged from Liliflorae onward is
is homogenous according to modern sufficiently phylogenetic.
standards.
The monocotyledons start with the series
The monocotyledons begin with
Microspermae containing the highly Pandanales which have naked unisexual
advanced family Orchidaceae. flowers. The Pandanales are now
considered a very advanced group.
The monocotyledons end with Graminae The monocotyledons end with
which is the correct position from the Orchidaceae, a family sufficiently
phylogenetic stand point. advanced but certainly not advanced
over grasses.