This presentation has been intended to offer a bird's eye view about the phylogenetic classification of the plant kingdom in general and the Engler and Prantl system in particular with merits and demerits.

1. PLANT TAXONOMY: ENGLAR & PRANTLE SYSTEM OF
CLASSIFICATION
A Presentation by:
Dr. N. Sannigrahi,
Associate Professor ,
Department of Botany,
Nistarini College, Purulia (W.B)
India, 723101

2. IN ALL THINGS OF NATURE,THERE IS SOMETHING OF
THE MARVELOUS”- ARISTOTLE

3. ENGLAR & PRANTL SYSTEM
Plant classification has been studied since the time immemorial of the
onset of agrarian civilization.
The modern trend of classification has been started by the number of
naturalists in general and Linnaeus in particular,
The classification broadly categorized under four categories-
Artificial System, the Natural system, the phylogenetic system of
classification & the Phentic system of classification
Recent trend is most unique one called APG system of classification
In Phylogenetic system, the plants are classified according to their
evolutionary relationships. It is very difficult to claim that a
phylogenetic system is perfect on the basis of evolutionary affinities
due to incomplete fossils records and in such a situation the plants are
classified on the basis of available data. The systems of classification
by Engler and Prantl (1887-1915), Hutchinson (1926, 1934, 1969 and
1973) and by Takhtajan (1954, 1964, 1973, 1980) are Phylogenetic
systems.

4. ADOLPH ENGLER & KARL PRANTL

5. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 Adolf Engler, Professor of Botany, University of Berlin, Germany, proposed
a phylogenetic system of classification in a book entitled Syllabus (1892).
Soon after, Engler in collaboration with Karl A.E. Prantl, another German
Botanist, published a monumental work entitled “
 Dieuturlichen Pflanzenfamilien" (1887-1915) having 23 volumes, Hans
Melchior published the revised edition of syllabus in 1964 with a number of
modifications in this system.
 The system of classification has been described as a “transitional
phylogenetic system” by Jones and Luchsinger (1987),
 They classified all the plants from algae to angiosperms,
 The system is used most of the non-British herbaria of the world.
 They placed monocots before dicots, orchids to be more evolved than
grasses, apetalous and catkin bearing dicots primitive to dicots bearing
petals and simple unisexual flowers.

6. ENGLER AND PRANTL SYSTEM -OUTLINE
 Engler and Prantl’s system divided the plant kingdom into following 14
divisions-
I. Schizophyta
II. Myxothallophyta,
III. Flagellatae,
IV. Dinoflagellatae,
V. Bacillariophyta,
VI. Conjugate,
VII. Heteroconiae,
VIII. Chlorophyceae,
IX. Charophyta,
X. Phaeophyceae,
XI. Rhodophyceae
XII. Eumycetes,
XIII. Archigonitae or Embryophyta-Asiphonogama (Bryophyta and Pteridophyta),
XIV. Embryophyta Siphonogama

7. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 Unisexual, naked-flowers arranged in catkin and wind pollinated were
considered as the lowest grade of floral organization by Engler and as such is
called Englerian concept. The next stage of evolution in flower is followed by
the appearance of 1-seriate perianth leading to 2-seriate condition along with
bisexual condition. The outline and basis of classification of Engler and Prantl's
system are given below: 1) Plant Kingdom has been divided, into XI11
Divisions but according to recent modifications by Melchior (1964) the total
Divisions are XVI.
 2) Division I to XI1 dealing with Bacteria, different types of Algae, Fungi,
Bryophytes, and Pteridophytes.
 3). The XI11 Division is named as Embryophyta Siphonogamia; It is divided
into 2 sub-division based on the naked and^ enclosed ovules, that is i)
Gymnospermae (naked ovules) ii) Angiospermae (enclosed ovules)
 4) The sub-division Gymnospermae has been divided into 7 orders, the starting
one being Cycadofilicales, the most primitive one where as the ending order is
Gnetales, an advanced group of Gymnosperms.
 5) The sub-division Angiospermae has been splitted into two i)
Monocotyledonae, and ii) Dicotyledonae

8. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 This division is mainly based on the striking differences between Monocots and
Dicots such as the venation of leaf, 3-merous flowers in Monocots where as 4-5
numerous flowers are present in Dicots.
 6) Monocots are further divided into 11 Orders and 45 Families (14 Orders and
53 Families after the revision by Hans Melchior, 1964). The first or the starting
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.
 7) Dicots are divided into 2 subdass namely: i) Archichlamydeae, and ii)
Sympetalae This division is mainly based on the condition of perianth, 1-seriate
or 2- seriate and their fusion.
 8) Sympetalae which is also named as Metachlamydeae has 11 Orders in all
with 52 Families (11 Orders and 64 Families after revision of Hans Melchior,
1964).
 The first or the starting Order being Ericales with Clethraceae as the starting
family.
 The last or ending order of Sympetalae is Campanulales with Asteraceae or
Compositae as the last or ending family and that is very rightly placed because
this family is considered as the-highest evolved family among Dicot families.

9. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 Subdivision- Angiospermae
 Class 1 Monocotyledoneae- comprising 11 orders as follow:
I. Pandanales,
II. Helobiae ( Allismataceae and 6 other families)
III. Triuridales (Triuridaceae)
IV. Glumiflorae ( Cyperaceae, Gramineae),
V. Principes (Palmae),
VI. Synanthae ( Cyclanthaceae)
VII. Spathiflorae ( Araceae, Lemnaceae),
VIII. Farinosae ( Commelinaceae, and 12 more families),
IX. Liliflorae (Juncaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae and 5 more families),
X. Scitamineae (Musaceae and 3 more families)
XI. Microspermae (Orchidaceae and Burmanniaceae)

10. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 CLASS 2: DICOTYLEDONAE-Cotyledons 2; reticulate venation, flowers
tetra or pentamerous, open vascular bundle in stem, subdivided into 2
subclasses-Archichlamydeae and Metachglamydeae, comprising of 44
orders and 258 families.
 SUBCLASS: ARCHICHLAMYDEAE- Petals absent or free with 33 orders
and 201 families.
 ORDERS 1: Verticillatae (Casurinaceae)
 Piperales ( piperaceae and 2 more)
 Hydrostachjyles (Hydrostachyaceae)
 Salicales ( Salicaceae)
 Garryales ( Garryaceae)
 Myricales ( Myricaceae)
 Balanopsidales (Balanopsidaceae)
 Leitneriales ( Leitneriaceae)
 Juglandales ( Juglandaceae)
 Julianiales ( Julianiaceae)
 Batidales ( Batidaceae)

11. ENGLAR & PRANTLE CLASSIFICATION
 Fagales ( Fagaceae, Butolaceae)
 Urticales ( Moraceae, Urticaceae, Ulmaceae)
 Podostemonales ( Podostemonaceae)
 Proteales (Proteaceae)
 Santinales ( Santalaceae, Loranthaceae and 5 more)
 Aristolochiales (Aristolochiaceae and 2 more families)
 Balanophorales ( Balanophoraceae)
 Polygonales ( Polygoniaceae)
 Centrospermae ( Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceaer, Nyctaginaceae,
Caryophyllaceae and 6 more )
 Ranales ( RanunculaceaeNymphaeaceae, Magnoliaceae, Annoonaceae and
15 more,)
 Rhoeadales ( Papaveraceae, Capparidaceae, Cruciferae and 4 more)
 Sarraceniales ( 3 families)
 Rosales ( Rosaceae, Leguminosae and 15 more)

12. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 Pandanales ( Pandanaceae)
 Gerniales ( Geraniaceae, Rutaceae, Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae and 17 more)
 Sapindales ( Anacardiaceae and 22 more )
 Rhamnales ( Rhamnaceae , Vitaceae)
 Malvales ( Malvaceae, Tiliaceae, Bombaceae, Sterculiaceae and 3 more )
 Parietales ( Violaceae and 30 more families)
 Opuntiales ( Cactaceae )
 Myrtiflorae ( Myrtaceae, Combretaceae and 21 more )
 Umbelliflorae ( Umbelliflorae and 2 more Families)
 SUBCLASS 2: METACHLAMYDEAE (SYMPRTALAE)
 ORDERS 1: Diapensiales ( Diapensiaceae)
 Ericales ( Ericaceae and 3 more )
 Primuales ( Primuliuaceae and 2 more )

13. ENGLER & PRANTL CLASSIFICATION
 Plumbaginales ( Plumbaginaceae)
 Ebenales ( Sapotaceae and 6 more ).
 Contortae ( Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae , Oleaceae and 3 more ),
 Tubiflorae ( Convolvulaceae, Boraginaceae, Verbenaceae, Labiatae,
solanaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Bignoniaceae, Pedaliaceae, Acanthaceae and
13 more families)
 Plantginales ( plantaginaceae),
 Rubiales ( Rubiaceae and 4 more families),
 Cucuirbitalkes ( Cucurbitaceae)
 Campanulatae ( Campanulaceae, Compositae and 4 more families)
 Thus, from the above observation, it is quite clear that the several closely
related families are treated close to one another with the ray of light of the
phylogenetic relationship among the plants groups.

14. BROAD OUTLINE OF ENGLER & PRANTL SYSTEM

15. MERITS OF ENGLER & PRANTL SYSTEM
 Although, Engler himself did not consider the system as a true phylogenetic
one systems or Classification :
 Plants but the arrangement of order and families in the system is mostly
according to evolutionary tendencies.
 The system deals with all groups of Plant-Kingdom ranging from Bacteria,
Algae, Fungi, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
The system provides modern keys for the identification of each group of
plants.
 The position of Gymnosperms before Angiosperms is very accurate and is
in perfect accordance to the modem concept of evolution.
 The position of Asteraceae (Compositae) as the ending family of Dicot is
very logical and accurate because it is proved beyond doubt that this family
is the highest evolved family of Dicot and thus its position is fully justified.
 Similarly, the position of Orchidaceae as the ending family of Monocot is
also very accurate as this family is considered as one of the highest evolved
family of monocots. Anatomical data were taken into consideration in this

16. DEMERITS OF ENGLER & PRANTL SYSTEM
 system of classification for the first time.
 This is a convenient and well known filing system of several herbaria of the
world.
 Polypetalae and Monochlamydae of Bentham and Hooker were merged into one
subclass Archichlmydae,
 Abundant illustrations are provided along with the description of families.
Demerits :
 The concept of primitive flower (unisexual, naked, catkin) is against the modern
concept of evolution.
 Monocots are regarded more primitive than Dicots. This concept is not in
agreement with modern concept of evolution.
 Amalgamation of Apetalous families with Polypetalous families to form
Archichlamydeae is not desirable as it has resulted in the formation of a
unmanageable large group 33 Orders and 206 families.
 The system is not of much practical utility.
 The system fails to recognize the significance of reduction and because of this
“simple” were equated with “primitive” according to Cronquist (1965)

17. NOTHING IN BIOLOGY MAKES SENSE EXCEPT IN THE LIGHT OF
EVOLUTION”
 REFERENCES:
 Plant taxonomy- O.P. Sharma
 Text Book of plant Systematics-C.R. Mohanty
 Advanced plant taxonomy- A.K. Mondal
 Taxonomy of Angiosperms-P.C. Vasistha
 Plant taxonomy-Theory & Practice- G. Singh
 Google for images
 Different WebPages for study materials
 Disclaimer:
 This PPT has been developed to enrich online study resources for academic
fraternity without any financial interest.

18. AND MILES TO GO------” THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE