The classification and geography of the flowering plants: Dicotyledons of the class angiospermae (Subclasses magnoliidae, ranunculidae, caryophyllidae, dilleniidae, rosidae, asteridae, and lamiidae)

This latest revision of my classification and geography of the Dicotyledons replaces my 1992 (Bot. Rev. [Lancaster] 58(3): 225-348) review and is nece ssitated by the plethora of new information that has become available about the classification of the Angiospermae, especially in the currently popula r approaches of cladistic, particulate, and molecular taxonomy. This review attempts to bring up-to-date our knowledge of the dicotyledons, with empha sis on new information published in the last decade. Nearly 600 such recent books, monographs, and other botanical articles are cited in the introduct ion, listed primarily by the botanical discipline they represent, and in th e explanation of the classification. More than 2,000 additional works are l isted in the "Literature Cited" section. The numerous changes in the classi fication created by this new information are listed by subclass and superor der, with pertinent references. A new phylogenetic "shrub" replaces earlier versions and attempts to indicate visually relative sizes and relationship s among the superorders, orders, and suborders, with all of these divided i nto 10 subclasses. One table includes a statistical summary of all known an d generally accepted flowering-plant taxa: approximately 257,400 species in 13,678 genera, 389 subfamilies in 490 families, and 756 subfamilies and un divided families in 10 subclasses, 31 superorders, 73 orders, and 64 subord ers of Angiospermae. Figures for the dicotyledons are 199,500 species in 10 ,900 genera, 307 subfamilies in 376 families, and 586 subfamilies and undiv ided families in 7 subclasses, 22 superorders, 49 orders, and 48 suborders. Three other tables summarize the known indigenous distribution of the fami lies and subfamilies of dicotyledons around the world (the monocotyledons a re treated elsewhere). The synopsis lists the dicotyledonous taxa from the subclass down to the subfamily (and in Asteraceae down to the tribe), with indications of the degree of confidence I place in the circumscription and placement of each category above the subfamily, the best available estimate s of the number of genera and species for each category, and the known indi genous distribution of each subfamily and family. Table V lists the geograp hical abbreviations used in the synopsis. The extensive bibliography of per tinent literature on which I have based my decisions should be helpful to p ersons interested in the classification of the dicotyledons.