2 to 3 Classes of Angiosperms

[Ken Kinman]

Dear All,
      The division of angiosperms into two classes (dicots and monocots) has served us well for centuries, but I am finally ready (although still a little reluctantly) to formally let it go.  Therefore, I will henceforth divide the dicots into two formal classes, Magnoliopsidea (basal dicots) and Rosopsidea (eudicots).  This gives the classification more clarity, and it follows the example of the very useful classification of amniotes (reptiles as a basal class giving rise to two other classes---birds and mammals).

     Anyway, below is how the general classification now looks.  I still haven't decided how to code the rosid orders (still a vague polytomy), but will do so within the next month or two.  As I noted, I may break up "Ericales" (sensu APG) just as I did to their "Malpighiales".

           PHYLUM MAGNOLIOPHYTA

1 Magnoliopsidea%% (basal dicots)
      1  "Archaefructales" (fossil)
      2  Amborellales
      B  Nymphaeales
      3  Trimeniales
      B  Austrobaileyales
      C  Illiciales
      4  Ceratophyllales
      B  {{Rosopsidea}} (= eudicots)
      5  Chloranthales
      6  {{Liliopsida}} (= monocots)
      7  Piperales (incl. Hydnoraceae)
      8  Canellales
      9  Laurales
     10  Magnoliales

_a_ Rosopsidea (eudicots)
      1  Ranunculales
      2  Proteales
      B  Sabiales
      3  Trochodendrales
      B  Buxales
      4  Gunnerales
      5  Caryophyllales
      B  Dilleniales
      ?  Santalales
      6  Berberidopsidales
      7  Ericales
      B  Cornales
      C  Aquifoliales
      b  Asterales
      c  Apiales
      d  Dipsacales
      D  Garryales
      E  Gentianales
      F  Solanales
      ?  Boraginales
      G  Lamiales
      8  Saxifragales
      9  Vitales
     10  Brassicales
         Malvales
      ?  Rafflesiales
         Sapindales
      A  Myrtales
         Geraniales
         Crossosomatales
      A  Zygophyllales
         Linales
         Violales
         Euphorbiales
         Malpighiales
         Hypericales
         Oxalidales
         Celastrales
      A  Fagales
         Cucurbitales
         Rosales
         Fabales

_b_ Liliopsidea (monocots)
      1  Acorales
      2  Alismatales
      3  Dioscoreales
      4  Liliales
      B  Orchidales (= Orchidineae)
      C  Asparagales (sensu Kinman 2002)
      5  Pandanales
      6  Arecales
      7  Zingiberales
      8  Commelinales
      9  Hydatellales
      B  Xyridales
      C  Bromeliales
     10  Poales (sensu Kinman 2002)
           1  Typhaceae
           2  Thurniaceae
           B  Juncaceae
           C  Cyperaceae
           3  Flagellariaceae
           4  Anarthriaceae
           5  Centrolepidaceae
           B  Restionaceae
           6  Joinvilleaceae
           7  Ecdeiocoleaceae
           8  Poaceae