Question

Who had proposed a natural system of classification?
a. Eichler
b. Linnaeus
c. Engler
d. Bentham and Hooker

Answer 1

Hint: Classification is defined as the science of identifying, naming and grouping of living organisms. Taxonomy and systematics are the two branches of biology that deal with classification.

Complete answer:
> Eichler
He was the first taxonomist to propose the phylogenetic or evolutionary system of plant taxonomy called the “Eichler system”. Under this, he divided the pants on the basis of their reproductive structures. He was the first taxonomist who separated Phanerogams into Angiosperm and Gymnosperms. Angiosperms were also divided into Monocotyledonae and Dicotyledonae by him.

> Linnaeus
He proposed two kingdom systems of classification. The living organisms were classified into plants and animals on the basis of their characters.
But this system of classification was later on rejected because some lower organisms had the characters of both plants and animals and could not be easily placed in either of them. It also put together eukaryotes with prokaryotes which was not accepted.

> Engler
He was a German botanist who is famous for his work “Die naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien” in which he included all the genera of plants from algae to the phanerogams along with the key to identify those plants.

> Bentham and Hooker
Bentham and Hooker proposed the natural system of classification of seed plants in three volumes of “Genera Plantarum”. This system of classification takes into consideration the natural similarities and dissimilarities between organisms. Morphological, anatomical, cytological, development, reproduction, cytochemistry, biochemistry and experimental taxonomy are some of the features that are taken into account for classifying organisms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: The purpose of biological classification is to organize the vast number of plants and animals into categories that could be easily named, remembered and studied. They have taken all natural characteristics like vegetative and sexual reproduction as the basis of classification.