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

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An Introduction to the Natural History of Botany (1830)

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

Vegetable Kingdom (1846–1853)

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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)

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165 orders (list p. 3)

Class I: Vasculares: Flowering plants

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p. 1

Subclass I: Exogenae (Dicotyledons)

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Subclass II: Endogenae (Monocotyledons)

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Endogenae, or Monocotyledonous Plants p. 251[19]

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

.....

Class II: Cellulares: Flowerless plants

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p. 307

Vegetable Kingdom alliances and orders (1846–1853)

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(pages refer to 1853 edition)

Flowerless plants

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p. 5

Class I: Thallogens

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3 Alliances

Class II: Acrogens

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3 Alliances p. 51

Flowering plants

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Class III: Rhizogens

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3 orders p. 83

Class IV: Endogens (Monocotyledons)

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11 Alliances p. 95

Class V: Dictyogens

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5 orders p. 211

Class VI: Gymnogens

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4 orders p. 221

Class VII: Exogens

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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

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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

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Bibliography

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  • 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)