A system of plant taxonomy, the Eichler system was the first phylogenetic (phyletic) or evolutionary system. It was developed by August W. Eichler (1839–1887), initially in his Blüthendiagramme (1875–1878) and then in successive editions of his Syllabus (1876–1890). After his death his colleague Adolf Engler (1844–1930) continued its development, and it became widely accepted.

The system was based on dividing the plant kingdom into those plants with concealed reproductive organs (non-floral), the (Cryptogamae, = hidden reproduction) and those with visible reproductive organs (floral), the (Phanerogamae, = visible reproduction). Moreover, Eichler was the first taxonomist to separate the Phanerogamae into Angiosperms and Gymnosperms and the former into Monocotyledonae and Dicotyledonae. His primary ranks were Divisions (Abtheilung), followed by orders (Reihe).

Blüthendiagramme (1875–1878)

Volume I (1875)

Contents pp. VI–VIII Synopsis: Division I Gymnospermae p. 54 Division II Monocotyledoneae p. 73 Division III Dicotyledoneae p. 187 (part)

Volume II (1878)

Contents pp. V–VIII Synopsis: Division III Dicotyledoneae p. 187 (continued)

Syllabus (Fourth edition 1886)

The system (here taken from the 4th edition of the Syllabus, 1886) divides plants into divisions, classes and groups. Groups were further divided into orders. Note: ranks translated into Latin

+ German Botanical RanksGermanLatinEnglish AbteilungdivisioDivision UnterabteilungsubdivisioSubdivision KlasseclassisClass ReiheordoOrder UnterreihesubordoSuborder Fam.familiaFamily Unterfam.subfamiliaSubfamily Gruppe tribus Tribe Gattung genusGenus ArtspeciesSpecies

Outline: p. 6. Page numbers refer to text

A. Cryptogamae division I. Thallophyta classis I. Algae group I. Cyanophyceae group II. Diatomeae group III. Chlorophyceae p. 8 group IV. Phaeophyceae group V. Rhodophyceae classis II. Fungi group I. Schizomycetes group II. Eumycetes group III. Lichenes division II. Bryophyta classis I. Hepaticae classis II. Musci division III. Pteridophyta p. 21 classis I. Equisetinae classis II. Lycopodinae classis III. Filicinae B. Phanerogamae division I. Gymnospermae p. 33 division II. Angiospermae p. 34 classis I. Monocotyleae (7 orders) p. 34 order I. Liliiflorae p. 34 ordo II. Enantioblastae ordo III. Spadiciflorae ordo IV. Glumiflorae ordo V. Scitamineae ordo VI. Gynandreae classis II. Dicotyleae p. 39 subclassis I. Choripetalae subclassis II. Sympetalae p. 58

Class Monocotyleae order I. Liliiflorae p. 34 (6 families) 1. Liliaceae (3 subfamilies) a. Lilieae Tulipa Gagea Fritillaria Lilium Ornithogalum Allium Hyacinthus Asphodelus Aloë b. Melanthieae Colchicum Veratrum Tofieldia c. Smilaceae Paris Convallaria Asparagus Smilax 2. Amaryllidaceae p. 35 Galanthus Leucojum Narcissus Agave 3. Juncaceae p. 35 4. Iridaceae p. 35 5. Haemodoraceae p. 35 6. Dioscoreaceae p. 35 7. Bromeliaceae p. 35 ordo II. Enantioblastae p. 35 ordo III. Spadiciflorae p. 36 ordo IV. Glumiflorae p. 36 ordo V. Scitamineae p. 38 ordo VI. Gynandreae p. 38

See also Phylogenetic system

References

Bibliography

Works by Eichler

Volume I: 1875 Volume II: 1878 Syllabus der Vorlesungen über Phanerogamenkunde Lipsius und Tischer, Kiel 1876. Subsequent editions published as Syllabus der Vorlesungen über specielle und medicinisch-pharmaceutische Botanik, 2nd ed. 1880, 3rd ed. 1883, 4th ed. 1886, 5th 1890

Outline: p. 1

Other

in volume 2(2).