The Fagales are an order of flowering plants, including some of the best-known trees. The order name is derived from genus Fagus, beeches. They belong among the rosid group of dicotyledons. The anthophytes are a grouping of plant taxa bearing flower-like reproductive structures. They were formerly thought to be a clade comprising plants bearing flower-like structures. The group contained the angiosperms - the extant flowering plants, such as roses and grasses - as well as the Gnetales and the extinct Bennettitales.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

Five families are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Betulaceae Family: Betulaceae,

Alnus Genus Alnus: Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Betula Genus Betula: Betula pendula Roth, not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised

Casuarinaceae Family: Casuarinaceae,

Casuarina Genus Casuarina: Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive Casuarina equisetifolia L., not indigenous, naturalised, invasive Casuarina glauca Spreng. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised

Fagaceae Family: Fagaceae,

Castanea Genus Castanea: Castanea sativa Mill. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Quercus Genus Quercus: Quercus palustris Munchh. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised Quercus robur L. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive Quercus rugosa Nee, not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised Quercus suber L. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Juglandaceae Family: Juglandaceae,

Pterocarya Genus Pterocarya: Pterocarya stenoptera C.DC. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised

Myricaceae Family: Myricaceae,

Morella Genus Morella: Morella brevifolia (E.Mey. ex C.DC.) Killick, endemic Morella cordifolia (L.) Killick, endemic Morella diversifolia (Adamson) Killick, endemic Morella humilis (Cham. & Schltdl.) Killick, endemic Morella integra (A.Chev.) Killick, endemic Morella kraussiana (Buchinger ex Meisn.) Killick, endemic Morella microbracteata (Weim.) Verdc. & Polhill, indigenous Morella pilulifera (Rendle) Killick, indigenous Morella quercifolia (L.) Killick, endemic Morella serrata (Lam.) Killick, indigenous

Myrica Genus Myrica: Myrica brevifolia E.Mey. ex C.DC., accepted as Morella brevifolia (E.Mey. ex C.DC.) Killick, present Myrica cordifolia L., accepted as Morella cordifolia (L.) Killick, present Myrica diversifolia Adamson, accepted as Morella diversifolia (Adamson) Killick, present Myrica humilis Cham. & Schltdl., accepted as Morella humilis (Cham. & Schltdl.) Killick, present Myrica integra (A.Chev.) Killick, accepted as Morella integra (A.Chev.) Killick, present Myrica kraussiana Buchinger ex Meisn., accepted as Morella kraussiana (Buchinger ex Meisn.) Killick, present Myrica pilulifera Rendle, accepted as Morella pilulifera (Rendle) Killick, present Myrica quercifolia L., accepted as Morella quercifolia (L.) Killick, present Myrica serrata Lam., accepted as Morella serrata (Lam.) Killick, present

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