There are 27 families of flowering plants whose earliest ancestors diverged from what became the two most prominent groups of flowering plants, the eudicots and monocots. They are quite diverse, with woody and non-woody plants, evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees, and plants that grow in soil, in water and on other plants.

Victoria amazonica has the largest undivided leaf of any plant, up to in diameter. The parasitic genera Hydnora and Prosopanche are the only flowering plants with no evidence of leaves or scales. Myristica fragrans, the source of nutmeg, was important in the 17th-century spice trade. Amborella may represent the earliest-diverging order of flowering plants.

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) herbaceous: not woody; usually green and soft in texture perennial: not an annual or biennial scale: a reduced leaf or a flattened outgrowth woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous

The APG IV system, the fourth in a series of plant taxonomies from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, places the early-diverging families in nine orders. Canellales, Laurales, Magnoliales and Piperales are grouped together as the magnoliid orders, with Chloranthales as a sister group. Amborellales, Nymphaeales and Austrobaileyales are the basal angiosperms or the ANA grade. Ceratophyllales may have been the last of the nine orders to diverge, but some fossil evidence links it to the older order Chloranthales.

Families +Family and a common nameType genus and etymologyTotal genera; global distributionDescription and usesOrderType genus imagesAmborellaceae (Amborella family)Amborella, from a Malagasy plant name1 genus, in New Caledonia onlyJust one species, Amborella trichopoda, of evergreen shrubs and trees. The wood resembles the softwood of conifers, rather than hardwood. Amborell­alesAnnonaceae (soursop family)Annona, from a Taíno plant name111 genera, throughout the tropics, with 2 genera in eastern North AmericaShrubs, large trees and woody vines with fibrous bark. Several Annona and Asimina species are grown for their fruit, and Cananga odorata is used in perfumes. MagnolialesAristolochia­ceae (birthwort family)Aristolochia, from Greek for "best childbirth"8 genera, worldwideHerbaceous perennials with rhizomes, shrubs, small trees and woody vines. Some Aristolochia, Asarum and Saruma species can be grown as garden ornamentals. PiperalesAtherosper­mataceae (southern-sassafras family)Atherosperma, from Greek for "awned seeds" or "pointed fruit"6 genera, in and around the South PacificScented shrubs and trees. Laurelia sempervirens fruits are consumed as a spice in South America. LauralesAustrobaileya­ceae (Austrobaileya family)Austrobaileya, for Frederick Manson Bailey (1827–1915) and Irving Widmer Bailey (1884–1967)1 genus, in northern Queensland, AustraliaWoody vines with smooth leathery leaves Austro­baileyalesCabombaceae (fanwort family)Cabomba, from a Guianese plant name2 genera, scattered worldwide, in fresh water onlyFloating herbaceous perennials. Brasenia schreberi is grown as a vegetable in China and Japan. Nymphae­alesCalycantha­ceae (spicebush family)Calycanthus, from Greek for "calyx flower" (with similar sepals and petals)3 genera, in the US, China and Queensland, Australia. Chimonanthus is cultivated in many countries.Scented trees and shrubs, with buds covered in scales. Calycanthus oil is used in perfumes, and that genus and Chimonanthus are cultivated for their scented flowers. LauralesCanellaceae (canela-bark family)Canella, from Canna and Latin for "little"5 genera, in the Americas and eastern and southern AfricaTrees (and some shrubs) with scented leaves. Canella bark is edible, but also used to poison fish. CanellalesCeratophylla­ceae (hornwort family)Ceratophyllum, from Greek for "horned (antler-shaped) leaves"1 genus, in non-salty waterways worldwideSubmerged rootless plants that can anchor themselves with special branches. Some are used in aquariums to maintain oxygen levels. Ceratophyl­lalesChlorantha­ceae (pearl-orchid family)Chloranthus, from Greek for "green flowers"4 genera, in the tropics, usually on mountain slopesScented soft-wooded trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Some species of Chloranthus are used in teas. Chloranth­alesDegeneriaceae (masiratu family)Degeneria, for Otto Degener (1899–1988)1 genus, only in FijiSmooth scented trees with spirally arranged leaves MagnolialesEupomatiaceae (bolwarra family)Eupomatia, from Greek for "well-capped"1 genus, in New Guinea and eastern AustraliaShrubs, and a few trees, with root tubers and scented leaves. Eupomatia laurina fruit is an ingredient in jams, desserts and juices. MagnolialesGomortega­ceae (keule family)Gomortega, for Casimiro Gómez Ortega (1741–1818)1 genus, only in the coastal mountains of southern ChileJust one species of scented evergreen trees. Keule fruit is prized in Chile. LauralesHernandiaceae (lantern-tree family)Hernandia, for Francisco Hernández de Toledo (1514–1587)4 genera, mostly in tropical lowlandsShrubs, trees and woody vines. Gyrocarpus is a source of lightweight timber. LauralesHimantandra­ceae (pigeonberry-ash family)Galbulimima. Himantandra, an earlier synonym, is from Greek for "strap-like male parts".1 genus, in Melanesia and eastern AustraliaScented trees with coppery-haired leaves. The wood is used for timber. MagnolialesHydatellaceae (watertufts family)Trithuria. Hydatella, an earlier synonym, is from Greek for "little water" (plant).1 genus, in New Zealand, Australia and IndiaTiny, usually aquatic plants with rhizomes Nymphae­alesLauraceae (bay-laurel family)Laurus, from a Latin plant name56 genera, throughout the tropics, with a few species in temperate zonesScented shrubs and trees, except for the parasitic genus Cassytha. Avocado is a staple food crop, and many other species have edible parts. LauralesMagnoliaceae (tuliptree family)Magnolia, for Pierre Magnol (1638–1715)2 genera, scattered in Brazil and in generally eastern and southeastern regions of both Asia and North AmericaShrubs and trees with deciduous leaves that enclose the often large flower buds. Many species are popular garden ornamentals, and some of the scented oils are used in perfumes. MagnolialesMonimiaceae (boldo family)Monimia, for Monime (d. 71 BC), a queen of Pontus27 genera, scattered in the tropics, with some genera in temperate forests of the Southern HemisphereScented shrubs, trees and woody vines. The leaves and fruits of Peumus boldus (boldo) are edible. Some species produce good timber. LauralesMyristicaceae (nutmeg family)Myristica, from Greek for an ointment21 genera, all in the tropicsScented trees and shrubs with red sap. The spice nutmeg can be addictive and toxic in large doses, but the oil is used medicinally and as a toothpaste additive. MagnolialesNymphaea­ceae (waterlily family)Nymphaea, from Greek for "water nymphs"5 genera, widespread in shallow tropical and temperate waterwaysAquatic herbaceous plants, often with edible seeds and rhizomes. They are cultivated around the world as pond and aquarium ornamentals and for their nutritional value. Nymphae­alesPiperaceae (pepper family)Piper, from a Latin plant name, originally from Sanskrit and Greek5 genera, widespread in the tropics and subtropicsShrubs, trees, woody vines and herbaceous plants, many with scented leaves. Some species grow on other plants. Black pepper, now grown around the world, was the first trading commodity of the East Indies in the 16th and 17th centuries. PiperalesSaururaceae (lizard's-tail family)Saururus, from Greek for "lizard tail"4 genera, in East and Southeast Asia, and in the USScented herbaceous perennials with rhizomes. Houttuynia cordata, a fishy-tasting vegetable, is consumed in China. PiperalesSchisandra­ceae (star-anise family)Schisandra, from Greek for "divided male parts" (the anthers)3 genera, in eastern Asia, with one species in the southeastern USShrubs, small trees and woody vines with scented leaves. Some fruits are made into jams and juices. Fruits of Illicium verum (star anise) are used as a spice and processed pharmaceutically for the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Austro­baileyalesSiparunaceae (fevertree family)Siparuna, from a Guianese plant name2 genera, in the tropics of West Africa and the AmericasSmall trees, shrubs and a few woody vines LauralesTrimeniaceae (bittervine family)Trimenia, for Henry Trimen (1843–1896)1 genus, in eastern Australia, Sulawesi, Melanesia and PolynesiaShrubs, trees and woody vines Austro­baileyalesWinteraceae (Winter's-bark family)Wintera, for John Winter (16th century), a ship captain5 genera, scattered in the Americas, Madagascar, and in and around the southwestern PacificScented trees and shrubs with a few woody vines, some growing on other plants. Tasmannia species are grown as pepper substitutes. Drimys winteri was an effective scurvy remedy in the 17th and 18th centuries. Canellales

See also List of plant family names with etymologies

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References

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