# Eichler system

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 Ranks :
| German | Latin | English |
| Abteilung | divisio | Division |
| Unterabteilung | subdivisio | Subdivision |
| Klasse | classis | Class |
| Reihe | ordo | Order |
| Unterreihe | subordo | Suborder |
| Fam. | familia | Family |
| Unterfam. | subfamilia | Subfamily |
| Gruppe | tribus | Tribe |
| Gattung | genus | Genus |
| Art | species | Species |
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