Plant Classification: Type # 1.

Artificial Classification:
The earliest systems of classification which remained dominant from 300 B.C. up to
about 1830 were artificial systems, which were based on one or a few easily
observable characters of plants, such as habit (trees, shrubs, herbs, etc.) or floral
characters (particularly the number of stamens and carpels).

Such types of classification using some arbitrary or at least easily observable

characters, often irrespective of their affinity, is called artificial.

The sexual system of Linnaeus is a good example of artificial classification, which

uses only one attribute i.e. the number of stamens for grouping plants into 24 Classes
as a result of which, various unrelated taxa, which are not at all related but, similar
in one respect only, have been placed under the same Class.

Plant Classification: Type # 2.

Natural Classification:
These systems of classifications are based upon overall resemblances, mostly in
gross morphology, thus, utilizing as many taxonomic characters as possible, to group
taxa.

Charles Darwin’s proposed theory of evolution (1859) postulates that, the present
day plants have descended from those existing in the ancient past, through a series
of modifications in response to changing environmental conditions, which means
that all present day plants are related to each other in one way or another.

Thus, the closely related plants should naturally be grouped together. This is called
natural classification. Thus, larger the number of characters shared by different taxa,
the more closely related they are to each other. This is the basis of modern
classification.

Plant Classification: Type # 3.

Phylogenetic Classification:
The classification systems proposed after Darwin’s theory are mostly phylogenetic
i.e. they use as many taxonomic characters as possible in addition to the phylogenetic
(evolutionary) interpretations. These are expressed in the form of phylogenetic trees
or shrubs showing presumed evolution of the groups.

The natural systems are two-dimensional i.e. based on the data available at any time
and is known as Horizontal Classification, whereas the addition of the third
dimension i.e. past history or ancestral history results in phylogenetic classification
also known as Vertical Classification or Evolutionary Classification.
Artificial system of classification

Carolus Linnaeus (1707 - 1778) was a great Swedish Botanist and said to be the
“Father of Taxonomy.” He outlined an artificial system of classification in
“Species Plantarum” in 1753, wherein he listed and described 7,300 species and
arranged in 24 classes mostly on the basis of number, union (adhesion and
cohesion), length, and distribution of stamens.

The classes were further subdivided on the basis of carpel characteristics into orders.
Hence the system of classification is also known as sexual system of classification.

This system of classification though artificial, was continued for more than 100 years
after the death of Linnaeus, due to its simplicity and easy way of identification of
plants.
However the system could not hold good due to the following reasons.
1. Totally unrelated plants were kept in a single group, whereas closely related
plants were placed in widely separated groups. Example:

a. Zingiberaceae of monocotyledons and Anacardiaceae of dicotyledonous were

placed under the class Monandria since these possess single stamens.

b. Prunus was classified along with Cactus because of the same number of
stamens.

No attempts were made to classify plants based on either natural or phylogenetic

relationships which exist among plant groups.
 EXAMPLE OF NATURAL SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

BENTHAM AND HOOKER’S SYSTEM:

 This system was represented by two scientists in a book with three volumes named
as “Genera Plantarum”
 George Bentham (1830-1884) was an English scientist and a well-trained botanist.
 Sir Joseph Hooker (1817-1911) was Director of Royal Botanical Garden at Kew,
was more plant explorer.
 Bentham and Hooker’s classification deals with seed and flowering plants.
 It described 202 families grouped into cohorts.
 Total no of spp was some 97,205 of seeded plants.
They divided seed plants of Phanerogams into three categories:
(i) Dicotyledons
(ii) Gymnospermae
 (iii) Monocotyledons

(i) Dicotyledons:
– These are further divided into 3 groups/sub-classes:
1. Polypetalae
2. Gamopetalae
3. Monochlamydeae
Polypetalae
 Polypetalae has three series:
 Thalamiflorae
 Disciflorae
 Calyciflorae
Gamopetalae
 It has also three series:
 Inferae
 Heteromerae
 Bicarpellatae
Monochlamydeae
 It is divided into eight series:
 Curvembryeae
 Multiovulateae aquaticeqa
 Multiovulateae terrestres
 Microembryeae
 Daphneles
 Achlamydosporeae
 Unisexuales
 Ordines anomali
(ii) Gymnospermae
 These are divided into three families:
 Genetacae
 Coniferae
 Cycadaceae
(iii) Monocotyledons
 These are further divided into seven series:
 Microspermae
 Epigynae
 Coronarieae
 Calyeinae
 Nudiflorae
 Apocarpeae
  Glumaceae

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF BENTHAM AND HOOKER’S SYSTEM:

Merits:
1. It is a great mentioned system or natural system of classification
2. It is very suitable and important for practical purposes.
3. Monocotyledons are derived from dicotyledonous.
4. Full and complete description of each plant was prepared from studies and dissection
of individual plants.
5. For the sake of convenience, every genus was sub-divided into sub-genera and
sections each of which was named and diagnosed together with the assignment of
important spp belonging them.
6. The system was accepted by the entire British Empire, USA, and other European
countries.
Demerits:
1. The position of gymnosperms b/w dicotyledons and monocotyledons which is
anomalous.
2. Origin of angiosperms is not established.
3. Some of the related orders (families) are being widely separated due to an arbitrary
selection of characters.
4. Monochlamydeae is being regarded as an artificial group. It includes a no of orders
(families) possessing affinities with those of bisereate perianth.
 EXAMPLE OF PHYLOGENETIC SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

ENGLER AND PRANTL’S SYSTEM:

 Engler (1844-1930) and Prantl (1849-1893) were two German botanists who
published their work in the form of a book.
 Engler considered the monocot to be more primitive than dicot.
 Engler and Pranth’s system was warmly adopted by American and European
scientists but not by British. They were following Bentham and Hooder’s system in
the light of modifications produced by Bossey and Hutchinson.

 According to Engler and Prantl:

 The most primitive plants are wind pollinated and most advanced plants are insect
pollinated.
 Unisexual plants are more primitive and with the passage of time, no of sepals and
petals are increased. Bisexual flowers are highly advanced flower ie bisexual
flower is originated from the unisexual flower.
 Free sepals, free petals, free stamen, and carpels are the signs of primitive plants;
where United is the sign of advanced plants.
 If calyxes are united it means that the plant is primitive. If calyx and corolla are
united it means that plant is advanced whereas the union of all parts of flowers
represents the most advanced stage.
 From various groups of gymnosperms, angiosperms are evolved monocots and
then dicots. From angiosperms first evolved monocots and then dicots. It means
that dicots are advanced whereas monocots are primitive.
  Engler united polypetalae and monochlamydeae into a separate group called
Archichlamydeae in which dicot plants are included and in which the sepals and
petals are free.
 Metachilamydae plants are evolved from Archichlamydeae.
 Female flowers evolve from megasporophyll and male from microsporophyll.
 Monocots have been divided and classified into 11 orders, 45 families and dictos
are divided into 44 orders and 261 families.

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF THIS SYSTEM:

Merits:
1. The chief merit lies in the broad treatment of the entire plant kingdom.
2. It gives an excellent illustration and phylogenetic arrangement of many groups.
3. Joining up of Polypetlae and Monochlamydae into Archichlamydae
4. Archiaceae is placed at the end of dicots because they are slightly evolved.
5. This system is accepted all over the world.
Demerits:
1. The union of choropetalae and opetalae is important over that of Bentham and
Hooker’s system but in other respect not so
2. Ementiferae and centrospermae are placed in the beginning of dicot even before
Ranales.
EXAMPLE OF MODERN SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

Takhtajan Classification System

Introduction
Armen Leonovich Takhtajan (1910 – 2009) was a Soviet- American botanist. He
was one of the most important figures of the 20th century for his work on plant
systematics, evolution, and biogeography.
He was interested in the morphology of flowering plants, paleobotany, and the flora
of the Caucasus. He developed his classification scheme for flowering plants. This
classification emphasized phylogenetic relationships between plants.

His system was not known to botanists in the west until the 1950s. The classification
system of Cronquist was greatly influenced by Takhtajan. He developed the
classification system of higher plants.

Features of Classification System of Takhtajan

His system is based on phylogenetic system of classification. This system has greatly
influenced all recent systems of classification.

He subdivided both monocots and dicots into subclasses. This was his great
achievement. This is widely accepted as a major advancement in angiosperm
classification.
This system is synthetic and integrated which is based on all available data. This
data includes the studies of cytology, genetics, comparative anatomy,
photochemistry, embryology, and molecular data.

He studied the floristic composition of different regions. His book contains the
floristic division of the whole world. It also contains lists of endemic families and
genera. Endemic species of each region are also mentioned.
System of Classification
In his system of classification, flowering plants are divided into two classes:

Class Magnoliopsida
Also known as dicotyledons includes 8 subclasses, 126 orders, 440 families, almost
10500 genera, and no less than 195,000 species. This class is divided into the
following subclasses.

Class Magnoliopsida
1. Subclass Asteridae
2. Subclass Caryophyllidae
 Subclass Dilleniidae
1. Subclass Hamamelididae
2. Subclass Magnoliidae
3. Subclass Rosidae
Class Liliopsida
Also known as monocotyledons and includes 4 subclasses, 31 orders, 120 families,
more than 3000 genera, and about 65000 species. This class is divided into the
following subclasses.

1. Subclass Alismatidae
2. Subclass Arecidae
 Subclass Commelinidae
1. Subclass Liliidae
2. Subclass Zingiberidae
Merits of Takhtajan classification system
1. It is based on phylogenetic relationships. Most of the groups are formed on
the basis of principles of the phylogeny.
2. Families are small homogenous units composed of closely related genera.
3. This system is better organized on the basis of evolutionary relations than old
systems.
4. Angiosperms are monophyletic according to this system and are originated
from dicots.
5. Angiosperms are treated as one division.