Oxalidales

An order of flowering plants (angiosperms) in the eurosid I group of the rosid dicots. The order is previously unrecognized in classifications of the angiosperms but is indicated by numerous studies of DNA sequences. Oxalidales consist of five small families: Cephalotaceae (one species), Connaraceae (300 species of tropical trees and vines), Cunoniaceae (250 species of trees and shrubs mostly from the Southern Hemisphere), Elaeocarpaceae (350 species of trees and shrubs from the Southern Hemisphere and Asian tropics), and Oxalidaceae (350 species, mostly in Oxalis, mostly herbs that are found throughout the world). Oxalidales are heterogeneous in their morphological traits. Many species of the order are locally economically important, producing timbers and fruits, including zebrawood (Connarus, Connaraceae), star fruit (Averrhoa, Oxalidaceae), and lightwood (Ceratopetalum and Eucryphia, Cunoniaceae). Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) has some species that are grown as ornamentals and several that are noxious introduced weeds. See also Magnoliophyta; Magnoliopsida; Pitcher plant; Rosidae; Weeds.

Oxalidales
Ceratopetalum apetalum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Oxalidales
Families
See text.

The Oxalidales are an order of flowering plants, included within the rosid subgroup of dicotyledons. The following families are typically placed here:

• Family Brunelliaceae
• Family Cephalotaceae (Cephalotus follicularis)
• Family Connaraceae
• Family Cunoniaceae
• Family Elaeocarpaceae
• Family Oxalidaceae (wood sorrel family)

The Cephalotaceae family contains a single species, a pitcher plant found in Southwest Australia.

Under the Cronquist system, most of the above families were placed in the Rosales. The Oxalidaceae were placed in the Geraniales, and the Elaeocarpaceae split between the Malvales and Polygalales, in the latter case being treated as the Tremandraceae.

External links

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

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