SYSTEMATIC

BOTANY
DEFINITION & INTRODUCTION
• Systematics is the scientific study of the diversity and
interrelations of organisms
• The term ‘systematics’ is derived from the Greek word
‘systema’ which denotes the system of classification
formulated by early naturalists, especially by Linnaeus
• The basic components of systematics include
• IDENTIFICATION
• DESCRIPTION
• NOMENCLATURE
• CONSTRUCTING AFFINITIES (PHYLOGENY) and
• CLASSIFICATION
• Identification is the determination of a taxon based on
overall similarities and differences with other taxa
• Descriptions involve listing of features by recording
appropriate characterstics. It constitutes the definition of a
particular taxon. Detailed descriptions are essential for the
correct identification and consequently a better classification
• Nomenclature is the scientific naming of organisms. It deals
with the determination of correct name for a taxon
• Phylogeny is the study of evolutionary history of a taxonomic
group
• Classification is the orderly arrangement of organisms in to
definite groups, based on their similarities and interrelations
ARE ‘SYSTEMATICS’ AND ‘TAXONOMY’
THE SAME?
• Some authors prefer to differentiate between them.
• Simpson (1961) and Heywood (1967) considered systematics as a
broader field covering scientific study of the diversity and the
differentiation of organisms and relationships that exist between
them. They consider taxonomy only as a part of systematics,
restricted to the study of classification
• But, the scope of taxonomy has, however, been broadened in recent
years to make taxonomy and systematics synonymous. Authors like
Mason (1950) treated taxonomy as a broad field of biological
classification involving four main components namely
• Systematics (comparative study of organisms)
• Taxonomic system
• Nomenclature
• Documentation
IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEMATICS

• Systematics presents a clear picture of the diversity of

the living world
• Serves as a basic tool for the preparation of an
inventory of the worlds flora
• Demonstrates the evolutionary implications of
biodiversity
• Provides valuable information regarding the
mechanism of organic evolution
• Reveals the natural relationships among organisms
• Provides a sound and simple universal system for the
identification and classification of bot living and fossil
organisms
• Provides a universally accepted name for each
species. This avoids the confusion caused by local or
vernacular names, which are different in different
regions
• Development of systematics considerably accelerates
and widens the growth of other branches of biology
• Considerably accelerates the growth of other
branches of biology
SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION

•ARTIFICIAL
•NATURAL
•PHYLOGENETIC
ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICA
• This is the classification based on easily observable
superficial resemblances in morphology, habits, modes of
life, adaptations, etc.
• It was adopted by early systematists, such as Theophrastus,
Pliny and Linnaeus
• Classification of plants into herbs, shrubs and trees based on
habits, classification based on floral characters (such as
number of stamens and carpels) etc. are examples
• The major demerits of artificial classification are
• Similar and related organisms are placed in separate groups, and
totally unrelated and dissimilar forms are brought into the same
group
• Classification on the basis of superficial similarities does not give
any idea about the evolutionary relationship of organisms
NATURAL CLASSIFICATION

• Classification based on morphological, anatomical,

physiological, embryological and behavioural
similarities
• In this case, closely similar organisms are placed in
homogeneous groups
• Natural classification was proposed by John Ray,
George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker
• It gives a clear picture of the natural relations among
organisms
PHYLOGENETIC OR EVOLUTIONARY CLASSIFICATION

• It was proposed by Engler, Prantl and Hutchinson

• It is based more on the genetic relations and
evolutionary history of organisms (the evolutionary
history of a group is called phylogeny)
• An example of phylogenetic classification is Engler and
Prantl’s system of plant classification
• It was first published in 20 volumes in the
monumental work “Die Naturalichen Pflanzen-
Familien”
• This system is still in use in many herbaria all over the
world
• The importance of Engler and Prantl’s system is that the
families of higher vascular plants are arranged in
accordance with the increasing complexity of flower.
Naked flowers, with a bract like perianth are considered
most primitive and those with well differentiated calyx
and corolla are considered to be advanced ones
• Fusion of petals probably represents a more highly
evolved stage. In this system, monocots are placed
before dicots, and orchids are considered to be more
evolved than grasses.
• Engler and Prantl recognized 280 families of flowering
plants, including those of gymnosperms
BENTHAM AND HOOKER’S SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION

• George Bentham (1800-1884) and Joseph Dalton Hooker

(1817-1911) two well known English botanists, jointly
published a system of classification of seed plants
• It is the most elaborate natural system of classification
published in General Plantarum (1862-1884), a three volume
work in Latin
• This system is very easily workable and it represents the
result of a very careful comparative examination of all the
known genera of Phanerogams at that time
• 97,205 species of plants have been treated in this system,
grouping them under 7569 genera and 202 natural orders
(now treated as families) beginning with Ranunculaceae and
ending in Gramineae
• This classification was a refinement of the system proposed
by A.P. de Candolle (1844), which in turn was based on the
system of de Jussieu (1789)
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM

• The classification covers only the “seed plants” or Phanerogams

• 97205 species of flowering plants are classified under 202 families
starting from Ranunculaceae and ending in Gramineae
• Monocotyledons are placed after dicotyledons
• Gymnosperms are treated as a separate group and placed it in
between dicots and monocots
• Dicotyledons are divided into Polypetalae, Gamopetalae and
Monochlamydeae
• The series Disciflorae is created newly – a group not recognized by
earlier workers
• The subclass Monochlamydeae is divided into eight series on the basis
of terrestrial or aquatic habitats
CLASS DICOTYLEDONAE – SUBCLASS POLYPETALAE
• In Polypetalae, the flowers are with two whorls of perianth
of which the inner whorl is free or polypetalous
• Polypetalae is further divided into three series, namely
Thalamiflorae, Disciflorae and Calyciflorae
• Each series is further divided into many orders and families
• It includes the first two sub-classes of de Candolle’s
Thalamiflorae and Calyciflorae
• A special feature of this system is the addition of the new
series, Disciflorae
• Disciflorae is characterized by the presence of a well
developed staminiferous disc
CLASS DICOTYLEDONAE – SUBCLASS GAMOPETALAE

• In Gamopetalae flowers are with two whorls of perianth of

which the inner whorl is united or gamopetalous
• Gamopetalae is further divided into three series namely
Inferae, Heteromerae and Bicarpellatae
• Each series is further divided into many orders and families
• Gamopetalous families with an inferior ovary form the series
Inferae; those with superior ovary and gynoecium consisting
of two carpels form the series Bicarpellatae, while the
remaining ones in which the ovary is superior and gynoecium
consists of more than two carpels constitute an intermediate
group called Heteromerae
CLASS DICOTYLEDONAE – SUBCLASS MONOCHLAMYDEAE

• In Monochlamydeae, flowers are mostly with a single

whorl of perianth
• Monochlamydeae consists of 8 series which are
divided directly into families
• The division of this sub-class into series is based on
habitats, such as, terrestrial and aquatic.
CLASS - GYMNOSPERMAE
• The position of Gymnosperms in between Dicots and
Monocots is only for convenience rather than as an
indication of affinities
CLASS - MONOCOTYLEDONAE
• Monocotyledons are characterized in having fibrous
roots, leaves with parallel venation, trimerous flowers
and embryos with a single cotyledon
• The class is divided into 7 series and each series is
further divided directly into families
• Monocots begin with the family Orchidaceae in which
flowers are hightly specialized, and end with the
family Poaceae in which flowers are least specialized
MERITS OF BENTHAM & HOOKERS
CLASSIFICATION
• This system is natural and very practical. Classification is based
on actual observation and examination of specimens and
herbaria
• Descriptions are accurate at all levels, and easy to follow up to
the family level
• The system provides information about geographical distribution
• The classification begins with Ranales order which is now
universally considered as the most primitive among angiosperms
• Monocots are placed after dicots. In dicots, the dichlamydeous
Polypetalae and Gamopetalae were placed before the
Monochlamydeae
• The placement of Gamopetalae after Polypetalae is
justifiable since the union of petals is considered as an
advanced feature over the free condition
• A special feature of this system is the addition of the
new series Disciflorae.
• The 3 series of Polypetalae namely Thalamiflorae,
Disciflorae and Calyciflorae show gradual evolutionary
advancement from marked hypogyny to epigyny
passing through transitional perigynous condition
• The placement of Heteromerae in Gamopetalae
before Bicarpellatae is justifiable
• The position of Cucurbitaceae and Umbelliferae at the
end of Polypetalae is appropriate. These two families
form a connecting link between polypetalous and
gamopetalous families
• Creation of the subclass Monochlamydeae and the
arrangement of certain series on the basis of aquatic
or terrestrial characteristics is curious
• Among Monochlamydeae families with unisexual
flowers are placed after the families having bisexual
flowers
DEMERITS OF BENTHAM & HOOKERS SYSTEM
• Though B & H system of classification is post Darwinian,
its concept is pre-Darwinian. So, it does not consider
evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships
• In the system, some closely relaed families are placed
apart
• Monochlamydeae is treated as a sub-class. But, it is only
an artificial group
• Gymnosperms are wrongly placed in between dicots and
monocots, and the phylogenetic importance of naked
seed is not duly recognized
• The placing of Asteraceae at the beginning of Gamopetalae is
not justifiable
• The advanced family Compositae is placed at the beginning of
the subclass Gamopetalae. Similarly, the advanced family
Orchidaceae is treated at the beginning of monocots
• Retention of Nyctaginaceae, Polygonaceae, Amaranthaceae and
Chenopodiaceae in Monochlamydeae is unnatural because they
are related to orders having differentiated perianth
• Undue stress has been given to the relative position of the ovary
and the perianth characters in determining the affinities for the
classification of Monocots. Thus the treatment of Monocots in
general, except for the position of Glumaceae, is not proper.