Natural System of Classification

by
Bentham and Hooker
Name: Pawlin Huidrom
Roll No.: 19
M.Sc. Botany 1st Semester
2023-24
 Bentham and Hooker’s System of
Classification

Introduction:
• The most important of the Natural System is that of George Bentham(1800-1884)
and Sir Joseph Hooker(1817-1911) .
• Bentham and Hooker presented their system in Three Volume work in Latin
entitled ‘Genera Plantanum’ during the period of 1862-1883.
• This work Includes names, description and classification of 97,205 species of
Phanerogams known at that time.
• The term Family of the modern system was designated as Order and the term
Order was named as Cohort in their classification.
• All the seed plants are classified into 3 classes i.e. Dicotyledonae, Gymnosperms
and Monocotyledonae , 3 sub-classes ( Polypetalae, Gamopetalae and
Monochlamydae ), 21 series, 27 cohorts and 202 families.
 Outline of Bentham and Hooker’s System of
Classification
Class 1 Dicotyledonae:
-Flowers are pentamerous(fig. 1) and leaf shows reticulate
venation(fig.2).

Fig.1
Fig.2
It includes 3 sub-classes – Polypetalae, Gamopetalae and Monochlamydeae
Sub-class 1 Polypetalae:
-Calyx and corolla present.
-Corolla essentially free(fig.3).

It is further divided into 3 series:

1. Thalamiflrorae
2. Disciflorae and Fig.3
3. Calyciflorae.
Series(i) Thalamiflorae
- Flowers with prominent thalamus.
-Ovary is superior(fig. 1).
-Stamens indefinite.
Fig.1
Series(ii) Disciflorae
-Cushion shaped disc present below the ovary.
-Ovary is superior.
-Calyx united or free(fig. 2) and stamen definite.
Fig.2
Series(iii) Calyciflorae
-Flowers with cup shaped thalamus.
-Ovary is semi inferior(fig. 3).
-Calyx is united.
Fig.3
Sub-class 2. Gamopetalae
-Flowers with united petals(fig. 1).
-Sepals and Petals are distinct.

It is further divided into 3 series: Fig.1

1. Inferae,
2. Heteromerae and
3. Bicarpelletae.
Series(i) Inferae
-Stamen as many as corolla and alternating them.
-Ovary is inferior(fig.2) with two carpels.

Series(ii) Heteromerae
-Stamens as many as corolla and opposite to them.
-Ovary is superior(fig.1) with more than two carpels.

Series(iii) Bicarpelletae Fig.1 Fig. 2

-Stamen as many as corolla and alternating them.
-Ovary is superior(fig.1) with two carpels.
Sub-class 3. Monochlamydae:
-Flowers are incomplete.
-Sepals and Petals are not distinguished i.e. Perianth.
-Includes 8 series and 36 families.
Fig.
-Series(i) Curvembryeae: Embryo curved round the endosperm, ovule usually one.

-Series(ii) Multiovulatae Aquaticae: Aquatics plants with many ovules.

-Series(iii) Multiovulatae Terrestris: Terrestrials plants with numerous ovules.

-Series(iv) Microembryeae: Plants with minute embryo.

-Series(v) Daphnaleas: Carpel one, ovules few to solitary and ovary is semi-inferior.

-Series(vi) Achlamydosporeae: Ovary is inferior, one chambered and one to three ovules. Seed with
endosperm.

-Series(vii) Unisexuales: Flowers unisexual and seed is non endospermic.

-Series(viii) Ordines anomaly: Uncertain relationship.

Class 3. Monocotyledonae
-Flowers are trimerous(fig.1).
-Leaves show parallel venation(fig.2).
-Monocotyledonae includes 7 series and 34 families. Fig.1 Fig.2
-Series(i) Microspermae: Ovary inferior, seed very small.

-Series(ii) Epigynae: Ovary inferior, seed nonendospermic.

-Series(iii) Coronarieae: Perianth petaloids, ovary superior and endosperm present.

-Series(iv) Calyciane: Perianth sepaloids, ovary superior.

-Series(v) Nudiflorae: Perianth absent or represented by scales, ovary superior, endosperm present.

-Series(vi) Apocarpeae: Carpels apocarpous.

-Series(vii) Glumaceae: Perianth represented by lodicules and ovary unilocular.

Merits:
1.Betham and Hooker’s classification is considered as greatest natural system ever published.
2.Every genus and species were studied from the actual specimen available to authors.
3.This system is found suitable for all practical purpose because of its convenience in specimen
identification.
4.Placement of monocots after dicots is very accurate and is also in evolutionary sequence.

Demerits:
1.Placement of Gymnosperm in between Dicots and monocots is the most serious objection to
this system.
2.The placement of Rubiales and Asterales at the beginning of Gamopetalae is not in accordance
with phylogeny.
3.Polypetalae and Gamopetalae as a natural group is not according to concept of phylogeny.
4.Placement of Orchidaceae in the beginning of monocots is not desirable because this family
shows many advanced characters.
THE END