CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. TAXONOMY. 289 



anatomy will ever aid in establishing a natural system of the 

 various dicotyledonous groups, based upon descent, because 

 such a system is not jDossible. We may, no doubt, succeed in 

 arranging certain groups upon definite anatomical characters. 

 These characters are, however, useless when applied to other 

 groups. Again, it will be found that the selection of other ana- 

 tomical characters will lead to a different arrangement. The 

 reason that we cannot find a system which would also represent 

 a phylogenetic tree lies in the absence of a natural descent, and 

 not in the lost or hidden branches of this tree. The bond which 

 unites the organisms of a kingdom is a spiritual one, it is the 

 uniform Creative Idea. A phylogenetic relationship, if it exists 

 at all, is very limited. 



In conclusion I will give the plant-system of Eichler." 



A. Cryptogamae. 



I. Division : Thallophyt^. 

 /. Class: Algce. 



I. Group : Cyanopliyceae. 

 II. " Diatomese. 



III. " Chlorophycese. 



1. Series : Conjugatse ; 2. series : Zoospo- 

 rese ; 3. series : Characese. 



IV. Group : Phseophyceae. 

 V. " Rhodophycese. 



II. Class : Fungi. 



I. Grouj) : Schizomj'cetes. 

 II. " Eumycetes. 



1. Series : Phycomycetes ; 2. series : Ustila- 

 ginese ; 3. series : ^Ecidiomycetes ; 4. series : 

 Ascomycetes ; 5. series : Basidiomycetes. 

 III. Group : Lichenes. 

 II. Division: Bryophyta. 



I. Group : Hepaticae. 

 II. " Musci. 

 III. Division : Pteridophyta. 

 /. Class : EquisetincB. 

 II. " Lycojjodince. 

 III. " Filicince. 



Syllabus, 1886. 



