Engler and prantl classification

1. OUTLINE OF ENGLER
AND PRANTL
CLASSIFICATION
By:
Name: Prachi Biswas
Roll: 20203038
Sem : 4th Semester(Botany)
Sub : Plant Systematics
Assigned by : D.K. Patel

2. • Engler and Prantl are names associated with a system
published in 1886 which classifies entire plant kingdom.
• Engler looked upon the monocots as a primitive group and
put them first in the list. Engler's system is more important
because it aims to arrange the plants with an evolutionary
bias.
• It is often claimed that this was the first of the
phylogenetic systems. Engler and Prantl's system is widely
followed in Europe and in certain parts of the US.
INTRODUCTION

3. Outline and basis of classification

4. Outline and basis of classification
 Plant Kingdom has been divided into 13 Divisions.
 Divisions 1 to 12 dealing with Bacteria, different types of Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes, and
Pteridophytes.
 The 13th Division is named as Embryophyta Siphonogamia which includes all seed producing
plants.
 It is divided into 2 sub-divisions :
i) Gymnospermae (naked ovules/seeds)
ii) Angiospermae (enclosed ovules/seeds)
 Gymnospermae has been divided into 7 orders, from Cycadofilicales to Gnetales.
 The sub-division Angiospermae divided into two Classes
i) Monocotyledonae
ii) Dicotyledonae

5. Outline and basis of classification
 Monocots divided into 11 Orders and 45 Families, First order is Pandanales which possesses
naked, unisexual flowers with Typhaceae as the Starting family.
 The last order is Microspermae with orchidaceae as the last family.
 Dicots are divided into 2 subclass namely: i) Archichlamydeae, and ii) Sympetalae or
Metachlamydeae.
 In Archichlamydeae, the flowers are achlamydous or mono/dichlamydous, but petals are
mostly free (polypetalous condition). In sympetalae, the petals are fused (gamopetalous).
 Archichlamydeae has 33 Orders and 206 Families. The first order being Verticillatae and
Casuarinaceae as the starting family. The last order being Umbelliflorae with Cornaceae as
the last family.
 Sympetalae has 11 Orders with 52 Families. The first Order being Ericales with Clethraceae
as the starting family. The last order is Campanulales with Asteraceae as the last family.

6. ADVANTAGES
• First classification to incorporate evolutionary principles (Primitive groups followed by
advanced).
• The system deals with all groups of Plant-Kingdom - Bacteria, Algae, Fungi, Bryophyta,
Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
• Gymnosperms treated as a separate group. Its position before Angiosperms is very accurate
and is in perfect accordance to the modem concept of evolution.
• The position of Asteraceae (Compositae) as the last family of Dicot is very logical and acurate
because it is the highest evolved family of Dicots.
• The position of Orchidaceae at the end of Monocots is also very accurate as its the most
evolved family of monocots.
• Anatomical data were taken into consideration in this system of classification for the first time.

7. DISADVANTAGES
• Monocots considered primitive to Dicots which is not correct according to modern
evolutionary evidences.
• The concept of primitive flower (unisexual, achlamydous) is against the modern
concept of evolution.
• Combining Apetalous families with Polypetalous families to form Archichlamydeae
is not desirable as it has resulted in the formation of a very large group 33 Orders
and 206 families.
• Angiosperms were considered nas a polyphyletic group, which is incorrect as per
modern phylogenetic data
• The system is not of much practical utility.