An early system of plant taxonomy, the Lindley system, was first published by John Lindley as An Introduction to the Natural System of Botany (Natural History, 1830).[1] This was a minor modification of that of de Candolle (1813).[2] He developed this further over a number of publications, including the Nixus plantarum (1833)[3][4] and a second edition of Natural History (1836), in which he introduced the concept of a higher order of taxonomic rank, the Alliances, in which he embedded the Tribes (families).[5][6] He also expanded his ideas on Exogens in his entry of that name in the Penny Cyclopedia (1838).[7][8] In 1839 he revised his division of the plant kingdom into classes in an article in the Botanical Register.[9][10] Lindley's system culminated in the three editions of his Vegetable Kingdom (1846, 1847, 1853).[11][12][13]

The schema of the Natural History is shown on pages xxxv and xxxvii-xlviii.[14] In the Vegetable Kingdom,[13] the schema for the first edition is on pp. lv–lxviii. The third and final edition was published in 1853,[13] with the schema on p. lv.[15] Cross references from Natural History to Vegetable Kingdom in [Square brackets].

Summary edit

An Introduction to the Natural History of Botany (1830) edit

Schema p. xxxv,[16]
Outline p. xxxvii
Index p. 345
Genera organised into Orders (referred to as Tribes, in English)

Vegetable Kingdom (1846–1853) edit

Summary of previous systems p. xxxv (see Notes)
Schema for 1846 and 1853 p. lv[15]
Genera organised into Alliances and Orders

Flowerless plants (Asexual)

Flowering plants (Sexual)

Natural History orders (1830–1836) edit

165 orders (list p. 3)

Class I: Vasculares: Flowering plants edit

p. 1

Subclass I: Exogenae (Dicotyledons) edit

Subclass II: Endogenae (Monocotyledons) edit

Endogenae, or Monocotyledonous Plants p. 251[19]

(May be Tripetaloideous, Hexapetaloideous or Spadiceous)[21]

.....

Class II: Cellulares: Flowerless plants edit

p. 307

Vegetable Kingdom alliances and orders (1846–1853) edit

(pages refer to 1853 edition)

Flowerless plants edit

p. 5

Class I: Thallogens edit

3 Alliances

Class II: Acrogens edit

3 Alliances p. 51

Flowering plants edit

Class III: Rhizogens edit

3 orders p. 83

Class IV: Endogens (Monocotyledons) edit

11 Alliances p. 95

Class V: Dictyogens edit

5 orders p. 211

Class VI: Gymnogens edit

4 orders p. 221

Class VII: Exogens edit

4 subclasses

  • Sub-class I: Diclinous Exogens 8 alliances p. 249
  • Sub-class II: Hypogynous Exogens 13 alliances p. 325
    • Alliance 26: Violales p. 325
  • Sub-class III: Perigynous Exogens 10 alliances p. 523
  • Sub-class IV: Epigynous Exogens 7 alliances p. 688

Notes edit

His final schemata is illustrated in the Vegetable Kingdom, his last work, on pages lv-lxvii.[27] In this work he also reviews all his previous publications relative to the many known systems published at that time.

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • Lindley, John (1833). Nixus plantarum. London: Apud Ridgway et filios.
  • Lindley, John (1838). "Exogens". The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. vol. X Ernesti–Frustum. London: Charles Knight. pp. 120–123.
  • Lindley, John (1839). "Primary Distribution of the Vegetable Garden". Botanical Register. xxv: 76–81.
A Natural System of Botany (1830–1836)
The Vegetable Kingdom (1846–1853)