MERITS AND DEMERITS OF

ENGLER &PRANTL SYSTEM

OF CLASSIFICATION
INTRODUCTION :
Engler & prantl's system totally contained fourteen
major divisions. The first thirteen divisions included
the algae, fungi, bryophytes and the pteridophytes.
The fourteenth division Embryophyta Sighonogama
included both the Gymnosperms and the 
Angiosperms.
 The system deals with all group of

MERITS plant-kingdom Bacteria, Algae,

Fungi, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta,
OF Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.

ENGLER The system provides

modern taxonomic keys for the
& identification of each
group of plants.
PRANTL It’s a Phylogenetic system.
SYSTEM Plants groups are arranged mostly
according
: to evolutionary affinities (primitive 
groups followed by advanced).
MERITS 
Gymnosperms treated as a
OF separate group. Its position before
angiosperms is very accurate and is
ENGLER in perfect accordance to the
modern concept of evolution.
 & Polypetalae and Monochlamydae

PRANTL of bentham and hooker

were merged by engler and prantl

SYSTEM into one single sub-class

archichlamydae.
MERITS  This system treated Orchidaceae and
Asteraceae as advanced families.
OF In this system
several closely related families
ENGLER ( Liliaceae, Jancaceae, Iridaceae and
Amarydaceae) are treated close to
 & one another.
The description of each family
PRANTL also contains a summary of embroylogy,
morphology, anatomy and
SYSTEM geographical distribution. 
DEMERIT Monocotyledons have been placed before
S OF dicotyledons in the system which is
against the modern phylogenetic
ENGLER  concepts.
 Achlamydeous flowers are treated

& primitively in this system that can be a

derived condition. There is more
evidence to prove that unisexual
PRANTL families are advanced over bisexual
families
SYSTEM
DEMERIT
 Some primitive forms like Helobiae are
S OF placed between two highly advanced
orders, like Pandanales and Glumiflorae.
ENGLER   In many placements, the system is not
& strictly phylogenetic.

PRANTL  Aracaceae are derived from Liliaceae, But

in this system they placed Aracaceae

SYSTEM before Liliaceae.