Gentianales

(botany) A family of dicotyledonous plants in the subclass Asteridae having well-developed internal phloem and opposite, simple, mostly entire leaves.

An order of flowering plants (angiosperms) in the euasterid I group of the asterid eudicotyledons. The order consists of five families and approximately 17,500 species. The order is characterized by opposite leaves, frequent occurrence of alkaloids, and the presence of internal phloem in the wood (not in Rubiaceae).

Apocynaceae (including Asclepiadaceae), approximately 5000 species, are mostly tropical and subtropical and have a well-developed latex system, superior ovary, thickened and apically modified style, and carpels that are usually united only by the common style or stigma. Rubiaceae, approximately 11,000 species, are cosmopolitan, but particularly important in the tropics. They have stipulate leaves and an inferior ovary. The widespread occurrence of alkaloids makes the family economically significant; the major products are coffee (Coffea) and the antimalarial drug quinine (Cinchona). Gentianaceae, approximately 1200 species, are principally temperate and subtropical. They often contain bitter iridoid compounds, and some are used medicinally or in bitter alcoholic beverages (such as Gentiana, gentians). The remaining two families are relatively small but contain some genera of economic importance. Strychnos (Loganiaceae) is the source of strychnine and the arrow poison curare, and Gelsemiaceae include the ornamental Gelsemium (allspice jasmine). See also Asteridae; Magnoliopsida; Plant kingdom; Rauwolfia; Strophanthus; Strychnos.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an order of dicotyledonous plants having gamopetalous flowers; Gentianaceae; Apocynaceae; Asclepiadaceae; Loganiaceae; Oleaceae; Salvadoraceae
  Synonym: order Gentianales

Gentianales
Gentiana cruciata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales Lindley
Families
Gentianaceae Apocynaceae Gelsemiaceae Loganiaceae Rubiaceae

Gentianales are an order of flowering plants, included within the asterid group of dicotyledons.

The circumscription of Gentiales in the Cronquist system included a broadly defined Loganiaceae (since broken up into several families), Retziaceae, Gentianaceae, Saccifoliaceae, Apocynaceae, and Asclepiadaceae. The circumscription recognized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) includes Apocynaceae (including Asclepiadaceae), Gelsemiaceae (segregated from Loganiaceae), Gentianaceae (including Saccifoliaceae), Loganiaceae, and Rubiaceae.

Under the APG definition some well-known members of Gentianales are coffee, gardenias, and frangipani.

APG includes Retziaceae in Stilbaceae (order Lamiales).

References

• Struwe, L., V. A. Albert, and B. Bremer. 1994. Cladistics and family level classification of the Gentianales. Cladistics 10: 175–205.
• Backlund, Maria, Bengt Oxelman, and Birgitta Bremer. 2000. Phylogenetic relationships within the Gentianales based on NDHF and RBCL sequences, with particular reference to the Loganiaceae. American Journal of Botany 87:1029-1043. Phylogenetic relationships within the Gentianales based on NDHF and RBCL sequences, with particular reference to the Loganiaceae

• Media related to Gentianales at Wikimedia Commons
• Information related to Gentianales from Wikispecies.

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