Natural System of Classification
Natural System of Classification
Two English Taxonomists namely George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker were closely
associated with the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, England have given a detailed classification
of plant kingdom, particularly the Angiosperms. An outstanding system of classification of
Phanerogams in their famous book Genera Plantarum which was published in three volumes
between the years 1862 to 1883 by them.
It is a natural system of classification. However, it does not show the evolutionary relationship
between different groups of plants, in the strict sense. Nevertheless, it is the most popular system
of classification particularly for Angiosperms. The popularity comes from the face that very clear
key characters have been listed for each of the families. These key characters enable the students
of taxonomy to easily identify and assign any angiosperm plant to its family.
Class Dicotyledonae
This group includes angiosperms in which the seed bears two cotyledons and leaves exhibit
reticulate venation. It is divided into three subclasses - Polypetalae, Gamopetalae and
Metachlamydae.
Sub-class Polypetalae
The flowers contain distinct non-essential whorls calyx and corolla. In the corolla petals are free.
This sub-class includes three series Thalamiflorae, Disciflorae and Calyciflorae.
1. Series Thalamiflorae: Thalamus drum shaped, many stamens in the androecium, Flower
is hypogynous e.g. Michellachampara
2. Series Disciflorae: Thalamus expanded and disc present. Hypogynous flowers with a
cushion-like disc around or below the ovary e.g.Glycosmisarborea
Sub-class Gamopetalae
Flowers with distinct calyx and corolla, and the corolla petals are fused. This sub-class includes
following three series:
1. Series Inferae: Flowers with inferior ovary e.g.Mikaniacordata
2. Series Heteromerae: Flowers with superior ovary, number of carpels are more than two
e.g.Rhododendron arboreum
3. Series Bicarpellatae: Flowers with superior ovary, number of carpels e.g. Leucasaspera
Sub-class Monochlamydae
The flowers are with only one non-essential whorl (perianth) or absence of non-essential whorls.
It includes following 8 series:
1. Series-1 Curvembryae: Usually single ovule, embryo coiled around the endosperm
e.g.Persicariahydropier
2. Series-2 MultiovulateAquaticae: Aquatic plants with syncarpous ovary and many ovules
e.g.Lacismonadelpha
3. Series-3 MultiovulateTerrestris: Terrestrial plants with syncarpous ovary and many
ovules e.g. Aristolochiaindica
4. Series-4 Microembryae: Only one ovule, small, tiny embryo endospermic seed e.g. Piper
nigrum.
5. Series-5 Daphnales: Only one carpel and contains single ovule.
6. Series-6 Achlamydosporae: Ovary inferior, 1 to 3 ovules –unilocular e.g.Santalum album
7. Series-7 Unisexuales: Flower unisexual, perianth usually absent e.g.Croton
bonplandianum.
8. Series-8 Ordines Anomali: (Anomolous families) Plants with uncertain systematic
position but closer to unisexuales e.g.Ceratophyllumdemersum
Class Gymnospermae
This group includes the gymnosperms in which seeds are not enclosed in fruits. This class is
divided into three families Gnetaceae, Confiraceae and Cycadaceae.
Class Monocotyledonae
This group includes angiosperms in which the seed bears only one cotyledon. The leaves exhibit
parallel venation. It is divided into the following seven series:
1. Series Microspermae: Ovary is inferior, seeds are minute and non-endospermic e.g.
Vallisneriaspirallis
2. Series Epigynae: Ovary inferior, seeds are large and endospermic e.g.Musa paradiasiaca
3. Series Coronarieae: Ovary superior, perianthpetalloid e.g. Allium cepa.
4. Series Calycinae: Ovary superior, perianthsepalloid e.g. Cocos nucifera.
5. Series Nudiflorae: Perianth reduced or absent. Seeds are endospermic e.g. Lemna minor.
6. Series Apocarpae: Carpels more than one, free, seeds are endospermic e.g.
Sagittariasinensis.
7. Series Glumaceae: Perianth reduced or absent, scaly bracts present e.g. Oryza stativa.
Each of the series mentioned under dicotyledonae and monocotyledonae have been further
divided into orders and families. Bentham and Hooker classified the angiosperms into 202
families. They were able to provide distinct diagnostic key characters to each of these families.
Plant
Kingdom
Cryptogamia Phanerogamia
Non-flowering Flowering
Gymnospermae Angiospermae
Thallophyta Bryophyta Pteridophyta (Seeds are (Seeds are
opened) closed)
Carolus Linnaeus classified plant kingdom into 24 classes based on the characteristics of
flower especially the number and behavior of stamens
This classification was developed by two German Botanists Gustav AdlofEngler (1844-1930)
and Anton Eugen Prantl (1849-1893).They divided plant kingdom into 13 Divisions
mentioned as below:
Division I : Schizophyta
Division II : Myxothallophyta
Division III : Flagellatae
Division IV : Dinoflagellatae
Division V : Bacillariophyceae
Division VI : Conjugatae
Division VII : Chlorophyceae
Division VIII : Charophyta
Division IX : Phaeophyceae
Division X :Rhodophyceae
Division XI :Eumycetes
Division XII :EmbryophytaAsiphonogama
Division XIII :EmbryophytaSiphonogama
Subdivision-Gymnospermae
Class 1 : Cycadfilicales
Class 2 : Cycadales
Class 3 : Bennentiales
Class 4 : Ginkgoales
Class 5 : Coniferales
Class 6 : Cordiaitales
Class 7 : Gnetales
Subdivision-Angiospermae
Class 1- Monocotyledon
Order- 11
Family-45
Class 2 -Dicotyledon
Subclass 1-Archiclamydeae
Order-30
Family-190
Subclass 2-Metaclamydae
Order-10
Family-53