Zingiberidae

A subclass of Liliopsida (monocotyledons) of the division Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae), the flowering plants, containing two orders (Bromeliales and Zingiberales), with nine families and about 3800 species. The subclass has been associated with the Commelinidae and the Liliidae, sharing some features with each but aberrant in either, and it differs from both in usually having four or more supporting cells around each stomate. The flowers are usually epigynous, usually bisexual, and often irregular, and they are usually showy and adapted to pollination by insects or other animals. The pistil consists of three united carpels, often with septal nectaries opening at the top of the ovary. The seeds usually have well-developed, mealy or starchy endosperm. See also Bromeliales; Liliopsida; Magnoliophyta; Plant kingdom; Secretory structures (plant); Zingiberales.

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Zingiberidae is a botanical name at the rank of subclass. Circumscription of the subclass will vary with the taxonomic system being used (there are many such systems); the only requirement being that it includes the family Zingiberaceae.

Cronquist system

The Cronquist system (1981) treats this as one of four subclasses in class Liliopsida (=monocotyledons). It consists of:

• subclass Zingiberidae

  order Zingiberales

  order Bromeliales

APG II system

The APG II system does not use formal botanical names above the rank of order. The plants involved here are assigned to order Zingiberales and Poales, both in the monocots.

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