Hamamelidales

(botany) A small order of dicotyledonous plants in the subclass Hamamelidae characterized by vessels in the wood and a gynoecium consisting either of separate carpels or of united carpels that open at maturity.

A small order of flowering plants, division Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae), which givesits name to the subclass Hamamelidae in the class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons). The family Hamamelidaceae contains about 100 species and the Platanaceae about 6 species; the other 3 familieshave only 2 species each. Within its subclass, the order is more advanced than the Trochodendrales in having vessels in the wood, but less advanced than the other orders in that the gynoecium consists either of separate carpels or of united carpels that open at maturity to release theseeds. Witch hazel (Hamamelis, sweet gum (Liquidambar, family Hamamelidaceae), and the plane tree or sycamore (Platanus) are familiar members of the Hamamelidales. See also Hamamelidae; Magnoliophyta; Plant kingdom; Trochodendrales.

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