Taxonomic system of plant classification, by John Lindley (1799–1865)
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). This was a minor modification of that of de Candolle (1813). He developed this further over a number of publications, including the Nixus plantarum (1833) 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). He also expanded his ideas on Exogens in his entry of that name in the Penny Cyclopedia (1838). In 1839 he revised his division of the plant kingdom into classes in an article in the Botanical Register. Lindley's system culminated in the three editions of his Vegetable Kingdom (1846, 1847, 1853).
The schema of the Natural History is shown on pages xxxv and xxxvii-xlviii. In the Vegetable Kingdom, the schema for the first edition is on pp. lv–lxviii. The third and final edition was published in 1853, with the schema on p. lv. Cross references from Natural History to Vegetable Kingdom in [Square brackets].
Summary
An Introduction to the Natural History of Botany (1830)
- Schema p. xxxv,
- Outline p. xxxvii
- Index p. 345
- Genera organised into Orders (referred to as Tribes, in English)
- Class I: Vasculares (Flowering plants) p. 1
- Class II: Cellulares (Flowerless plants)
- 1. Filicoideae
- 2. Muscoideae
- 3. Aphyllae
- Index to Introduction to Natural History p. 345
Vegetable Kingdom (1846–1853)
- Summary of previous systems p. xxxv (see Notes)
- Schema for 1846 and 1853 p. lv
- Genera organised into Alliances and Orders
Flowerless plants (Asexual)
- Class I: Thallogens
- Class II: Acrogens
Flowering plants (Sexual)
- Class III: Rhizogens
- Class IV: Endogens
- Class V: Dictyogens
- Class VI: Gymnogens
- Class VII: Exogens
- Index to Vegetable Kingdom p. 833
Natural History orders (1830–1836)
165 orders (list p. 3)
Class I: Vasculares: Flowering plants
p. 1
Subclass I: Exogenae (Dicotyledons)
- Tribe I. Angiospermae p. 2
- Polypetale 165 orders p. 2
- Apetale
- Aristolochiae
- ...
- Empetreae
- Achlamydeae
- Monopetale
- Gesnereae
- ...
- Orobancheae
- Tribe II. Gymnospermae p. 245
Subclass II: Endogenae (Monocotyledons)
Endogenae, or Monocotyledonous Plants p. 251
(May be Tripetaloideous, Hexapetaloideous or Spadiceous)
- Tripetaloideae 8 orders
- Hexapetaloideae(17 orders)
- 235: Hypoxideae
- 236: Burmannieae (p. 257)
- 237: Haemodoraceae (Blood-root tribe) p. 258*** 239: Irideae (Cornflag tribe) p. 260
- 238: Amaryllideae (Narcissus tribe) p. 259*** 240: Orchideae
- 239: Irideae (p. 260) [Narcissales 159]
- 240 Orchideae (p. 262) [Orchidales 173]
.....
- Spadiceae (7 orders)
- 254 Pandaneae p. 284
- 255 Typhaceae p. 285
- 256 Aroideae p. 286
- 257 Balanophoreae p. 288
- 258 Fluviales p. 289
- 259 Juncagineae p. 290
- 259 Pistiaceae p. 291 [Arales 124]
- Tribe II Glumaceae 2 orders p. 292 [Glumales 105]
Class II: Cellulares: Flowerless plants
p. 307
- 1. Filicoideae, or Fern-like plants
- 2. Muscoideae, or Moss-like plants
- 3. Aphyllae
Vegetable Kingdom alliances and orders (1846–1853)
(pages refer to 1853 edition)
Flowerless plants
p. 5
Class I: Thallogens
3 Alliances
- Algales p. 8
- Fungales, Fungi p. 29
- Lichenales, Lichens p. 45
Class II: Acrogens
3 Alliances p. 51
- Muscales, or Moss-like plants p. 54
- Lycopodales p. 68
- Filicales p. 74
Flowering plants
Class III: Rhizogens
3 orders p. 83
Class IV: Endogens (Monocotyledons)
11 Alliances p. 95
Class V: Dictyogens
5 orders p. 211
Class VI: Gymnogens
4 orders p. 221
Class VII: Exogens
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
His final schemata is illustrated in the Vegetable Kingdom, his last work, on pages lv-lxvii. In this work he also reviews all his previous publications relative to the many known systems published at that time.