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).
Contents pp. VI–VIII
Synopsis:
Contents pp. V–VIII
Synopsis:
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.
| 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
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
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
order I. Liliiflorae p. 34 (6 families)
1. Liliaceae (3 subfamilies)
a. Lilieae
Tulipa Gagea Fritillaria Lilium Ornithogalum Allium Hyacinthus Asphodelus Aloë
b. Melanthieae
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