The basal eudicots are a group of 13 related families of flowering plants in four orders: Buxales, Proteales, Ranunculales and Trochodendrales. Like the core eudicots (the rest of the eudicots), they have pollen grains with three colpi (grooves) or other derived structures, and usually have flowers with four or five petals (sometimes multiples of four or five, sometimes reduced or fused). Unlike other eudicots, they sometimes have flowers with petals in twos or multiples of two.

The basal eudicots include trees, shrubs, woody vines and herbaceous plants. Cultivars of Buxus are used for hedges and topiary, and the high-quality wood is commonly used for decorative carvings and musical instruments. The sacred lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam, and the waratah is the floral emblem of the Australian state of New South Wales. The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, a source of morphine, was cultivated thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia. Macadamia nuts are mainly grown in Hawaii and Australia.

The orders Dilleniales and Gunnerales are within the core eudicots. Species of Gunnerales often have serrate (serrated) leaves, with flowers similar to those of Buxales. The epidermis and hairs on species of Dilleniales are often full of silica.

Glossary

From the glossary of botanical terms: annual: a plant species that completes its life cycle within a single year or growing season basal: attached close to the base (of a plant or an evolutionary tree diagram) climber: a vine that leans on, twines around or clings to other plants for vertical support deciduous: shedding or falling seasonally, as with bark, leaves, or petals glandular hair: a hair tipped with a secretory structure herbaceous: not woody; usually green and soft in texture perennial: lives for more than two years unisexual: bearing only male or only female reproductive organs (i.e. not bisexual) woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous

The APG IV system is the fourth in a series of plant taxonomies from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Dilleniales and Gunnerales families

+Family and a common nameType genus and etymologyTotal genera; global distributionDescription and usesOrderType genus imagesDilleniaceae (guineaflower family)Dillenia, for Johann Jacob Dillenius (1684–1747)11 genera, throughout the tropics and extending into Asia and AustraliaShrubs, trees, woody vines and a few herbaceous plants. Dillenia and Hibbertia species are grown as ornamentals, and some Dillenia fruits are edible. DillenialesGunneraceae (giant-rhubarb family)Gunnera, for Johan Ernst Gunnerus (1718–1773)1 genus, in the Southern Hemisphere and low northern latitudesSmall to very large herbaceous plants, usually perennials, with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The genus is planted along pond edges in many temperate gardens. GunneralesMyrothamna­ceae (resurrection-shrub family)Myrothamnus, from Greek for "perfume bush"1 genus, in East Africa and MadagascarFragrant unisexual shrubs. This genus is the only woody resurrection plant; at the end of the dry season, the leaves resuscitate and turn green after wetting. Gunnerales

Basal eudicot families +Family and a common nameType genus and etymologyTotal genera; global distributionDescription and usesOrderType genus imagesBerberidaceae (barberry family)Berberis, from an Arabic plant name13 genera, in temperate zones worldwideDeciduous and evergreen shrubs, small trees and herbaceous perennials. Berberis fruits are sometimes used in cooking. The genus hosts stem rust, which can infest cereal grains. RanunculalesBuxaceae (box family)Buxus, from a Latin plant name6 genera, on all continents except Australia and AntarcticaMostly shrubs and trees, usually without hairs or scales. Pachysandra terminalis is planted as a shade-loving evergreen ground cover. BuxalesCircaeastera­ceae (witch's-star family)Circaeaster, for Circe, a witch of Greek myth2 genera, scattered in Asian montane habitatsHerbaceous perennials and annuals RanunculalesEupteleaceae (Asian-elm family)Euptelea, from Greek for "good elm"1 genus, in a variety of temperate zones in AsiaDeciduous shrubs and trees with spirally arranged leaves. Both species are grown as ornamental trees. RanunculalesLardizabalaceae (zabala-fruit family)Lardizabala, for Manuel de Lardizábal y Uribe (1744–1824), a politician7 genera, in southern South America and temperate East AsiaWoody vines, including climbers, and a few shrubs. Akebia quinata is a temperate garden ornamental, and its shoots are sometimes used in vegetable tempura in Japan. RanunculalesMenisperma­ceae (moonseed family)Menispermum, from Greek for "moon seeds"76 genera, most in tropical rainforestsWoody vines, along with some shrubs, small trees and herbaceous plants. The arrow poison curare is made from Chondodendron. RanunculalesNelumbonaceae (sacred-lotus family)Nelumbo, from a Sinhalese plant name1 genus, in North America and southern and East Asia, in zones ranging from temperate to tropicalHerbaceous aquatic perennials with underground rhizomes that produce tubers. The tubers and seeds are popular in Asian cuisine. Leaf surfaces have superhydrophobic wax. ProtealesPapaveraceae (poppy family)Papaver, from a Latin plant name45 genera, mostly in temperate zones north of the equatorMostly herbaceous annuals and perennials, with a few shrubs and fewer trees. Poppy seeds are widely used in baked goods. Papaver somniferum is harvested to produce opiates, including morphine. RanunculalesPlatanaceae (plane-tree family)Platanus, from a Greek plant name1 genus, in parts of North America, Europe and Asia.Tall deciduous trees with peeling bark. Plane (sycamore) wood is durable, and traditionally used for butcher's blocks. The hairs on new shoots can cause an allergic reaction. ProtealesProteaceae (sugarbush family)Protea, for Proteus, a Greek god80 genera, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in AustraliaTrees and shrubs, usually with bisexual flowers. Banksia, Leucadendron, Protea and other genera are grown as ornamentals and for the cut-flower trade. Chilean hazelnuts are eaten in South America and New Zealand. ProtealesRanunculaceae (buttercup family)Ranunculus, from Latin for "little frog" (some species are aquatic)50 genera, worldwide, mostly in temperate zonesHerbaceous plants, woody vines and small shrubs. Many genera are popular garden plants, including Aconitum, Anemone, Aquilegia, Clematis, Delphinium, Ranunculus and Thalictrum. RanunculalesSabiaceae (pao-hua family)Sabia, from a Hindi plant name3 genera, in tropical and warm temperate East Asia and Central and South AmericaEvergreen and deciduous shrubs, trees and woody vines ProtealesTrochodendra­ceae (wheel-tree family)Trochodendron, from Greek for "wheel" (of stamens) and "tree"2 genera, in subtropical and temperate East AsiaEvergreen shrubs and trees with spirally arranged leaves and limited vascular systems Trochoden­drales

See also List of plant family names with etymologies

Notes

Citations

References

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