List of basal superasterid families
The basal superasterids are three orders of flowering plants – Caryophyllales, Santalales and Berberidopsidales – that belong to the superasterids. They include 47 families of woody and non-woody plants, cactuses and other succulents, and plants that grow in soil, in water and on other plants.
The spinach family includes sugar beets, which account for a fifth of the world's sugar consumption. Opuntia ficus-indica, a prickly pear species, is the most common food crop of the cactuses. Carnations are cultivated for their oils and for the cut-flower trade. Sundews, Venus flytraps and the aquatic Aldrovanda all have leaves that surround, trap and digest insects and other small animals. Nepenthes catches its prey with slippery pitchers of water and digestive juices. The garden ornamental Lewisia can survive two-year droughts. Jojoba oil, widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, is similar to the oils produced by human skin glands.
Glossary
From the glossary of botanical terms:- annual: a plant species that completes its life cycle within a single year or growing season
- basal: attached close to the base
- climber: a vine that leans on, twines around or clings to other plants for vertical support
- herbaceous: not woody; usually green and soft in texture
- perennial: not an annual or biennial
- scale: a reduced leaf or a flattened outgrowth
- succulent : juicy or fleshy
- unisexual: of one sex; bearing only male or only female reproductive organs
- woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous
Families
| Family and a common name | Type genus and etymology | Total genera; global distribution | Description and uses | Order | Type genus images |
| Achatocarpaceae | Achatocarpus, from Greek for "agate fruit" | 2 genera, from southern North America to Argentina | Small trees and shrubs, many with unisexual flowers and pointed branchlets and some with thorns | Caryophyllales | |
| Aextoxicaceae | Aextoxicon, from Greek for "goat poison" | 1 genus, in Chile and Argentina | Unisexual trees with scaly rust-tinted flowers, leaves and branches | Berberidopsidales | |
| Aizoaceae | Aizoon, from Greek for "always living" or "hardy" | 120 genera, in the drier tropics and subtropics | Shrubs and herbaceous succulents. New Zealand spinach and Sesuvium portulacastrum are cultivated as leaf vegetables. Living stones and some species with leaf windows are popular ornamentals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Amaranthaceae | Amaranthus, from Greek for "unfading" | 183 genera, mostly tropical, with some warm temperate species | Shrubs and herbaceous plants, with a few vines and trees. The family includes spinach, quinoa, sugar beets and other foods, along with many common garden ornamentals, such as Amaranthus and Gomphrena. | Caryophyllales | |
| Anacampserotaceae | Anacampseros, from a Greek plant name | 3 genera, scattered in the Americas, Africa, Yemen and Australia | Succulent herbaceous perennials, some woody at the base | Caryophyllales | |
| Ancistrocladaceae | Ancistrocladus, from Greek for "fish-hooked branches" | 1 genus, in tropical Africa and Asia | Woody vines and climbing shrubs. The genus's antimicrobial properties are under investigation. | Caryophyllales | |
| Asteropeiaceae | Asteropeia, for Asteropeia, daughter of the mythological king Pelias | 1 genus, in Madagascar | Shrubs and trees | Caryophyllales | |
| Balanophoraceae | Balanophora, from Greek for "acorn-bearing" | 16 genera, scattered in the tropics, East Asia, South Africa and New Zealand | Herbaceous succulents without chlorophyll that are parasitic on roots and rhizomes | Santalales | |
| Barbeuiaceae | Barbeuia, for Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg | 1 genus, in Madagascar | Woody vines with leaves arranged in spirals | Caryophyllales | |
| Basellaceae | Basella, from a Malabar plant name | 4 genera, mostly in the Andes and the tropics of the Americas | Succulent herbaceous perennials and vines, frequently with thick roots or tubers. Ulluco tubers were an important food crop in pre-Columbian Ecuador and Peru, and still are. Malabar spinach is a popular subtropical and tropical vegetable. | Caryophyllales | |
| Berberidopsidaceae | Berberidopsis, from Greek for "like Berberis" | 2 genera, in eastern Australia and southern Chile | Three species of woody vines, all with leaves that grow in a spiral pattern | Berberidopsidales | |
| Cactaceae | Mammillaria. Cactus, an earlier synonym, is from a Greek plant name. | 150 genera, almost entirely in the Americas | Perennial evergreen shrubs, trees and vines, usually leafless with fat green succulent stems. Many species are houseplants or arid-climate ornamentals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Caryophyllaceae | Dianthus. Caryophyllus, an earlier synonym, is from Greek for "nut leaves". | 101 genera, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere | Mostly herbaceous plants, with some shrubs and small trees, rarely unisexual. Many genera, including Gypsophila, are grown as ornamentals. Carnations have been grown for at least two thousand years. | Caryophyllales | |
| Didiereaceae | Didierea, for Alfred Grandidier | 6 genera, all in Madagascar | Arid-climate shrubs and trees, sometimes vines. Some species are ornamentals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Dioncophyllaceae | Dioncophyllum, from Greek for "two-hooked leaves" | 3 genera, in West Africa and the Congo Basin | Woody vines and climbing shrubs. Triphyophyllum peltatum, which sometimes traps and digests insects, produces useful antimalarial compounds. | Caryophyllales | |
| Droseraceae | Drosera, from Greek for "dewy" | 3 genera, widespread, generally in areas with poor soil | Herbaceous plants. The popularity of the Venus flytrap, with jaw-like leaves that pin its prey, is endangering the species in the wild. | Caryophyllales | |
| Drosophyllaceae | Drosophyllum, from Greek for "dewy leaves" | 1 genus, in southwestern Iberia and northern Morocco | Herbaceous plants with woody roots. Sticky leaf glands trap and digest insects and other small animals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Frankeniaceae | Frankenia, for Johann Francke, a Swedish botanist | 1 genus, widespread in drier, warmer zones | Salt-tolerant shrubs and herbaceous plants | Caryophyllales | |
| Gisekiaceae | Gisekia, for Paul Dietrich Giseke | 1 genus, in Africa and southern Asia | Herbaceous plants, usually ground-hugging, with many-branched stems | Caryophyllales | |
| Halophytaceae | Halophytum, from Greek for "salt plant" | 1 genus, in Argentina | Succulent herbaceous annuals | Caryophyllales | |
| Kewaceae | Kewa, for Kew, London, England | 1 genus, in eastern and southern Africa | Herbaceous plants, some with wood at the base | Caryophyllales | |
| Limeaceae | Limeum, from Latin for "path" | 1 genus, in Africa, Arabia and India | Herbaceous plants with stems that grow along the soil surface, often with a woody base | Caryophyllales | |
| Lophiocarpaceae | Lophiocarpus, from Greek for "small-crested fruit" | 2 genera, in Africa, southern Arabia and western India | Herbaceous plants, some with wood at the base | Caryophyllales | |
| Loranthaceae | Loranthus, from Latin for "strap" and Greek for "flowers" | 78 genera, widespread | Parasitic evergreen vines, trees and shrubs | Santalales | |
| Macarthuriaceae | Macarthuria, for William Macarthur | 1 genus, in Australia | Stiff, rush-like herbaceous perennials with green stems | Caryophyllales | |
| Microteaceae | Microtea, from Greek for "small size", probably | 1 genus, in the tropics of the Americas | Herbaceous annuals, sometimes woody at the base | Caryophyllales | |
| Misodendraceae | Misodendrum, from Greek for "hating trees" | 1 genus, in Argentina and Chile | Parasitic evergreen unisexual shrubs | Santalales | |
| Molluginaceae | Mollugo, from Greek for "soft" | 11 genera, mostly in the subtropics and tropics | Herbaceous plants and cushion plants or subshrubs. Some Glinus and Mollugo species are used for seasoning. | Caryophyllales | |
| Montiaceae | Montia, for Giuseppe Monti | 16 genera, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere | Mostly herbaceous plants, frequently with swollen roots. One species, bitterroot, was a staple food for some Native Americans. | Caryophyllales | |
| Nepenthaceae | Nepenthes, from Greek for "antidepressant" | 1 genus, mostly in tropical Southeast and East Asia | Unisexual shrubs and vines, some growing on other plants. The tips of some leaves develop into pitchers that trap and digest insects and other small animals. Many species and hybrids are popular ornamentals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Nyctaginaceae | Mirabilis. Nyctago, an earlier synonym, is from Greek for "night". | 32 genera, mostly in the subtropics and tropics of the Americas | Trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and spine-covered vines. Stem nodes are frequently swollen, and some have spines. Mirabilis expansa has been a food crop since prehistoric times. Mirabilis and Bougainvillea have ornamental species. | Caryophyllales | |
| Olacaceae | Olax, from Latin for "scented" | 28 genera, in the tropics, and in the subtropics of the Americas | Mostly evergreen trees, shrubs and vines, some with scented wood | Santalales | |
| Opiliaceae | Opilia | 11 genera, in the tropics and temperate Oceania | Parasitic evergreen shrubs and trees, and a few woody vines | Santalales | |
| Petiveriaceae | Petiveria, for James Petiver | 9 genera, almost entirely in the tropics of the Americas | Shrubs, trees, vines and herbs, some with spines | Caryophyllales | |
| Physenaceae | Physena, from Greek for "inflated" | 1 genus, in eastern Madagascar | Trees and shrubs | Caryophyllales | — |
| Phytolaccaceae | Phytolacca, from Greek for "plant" and modern Latin for "lac", a red dye | 5 genera, mostly in the tropics and subtropics, with a wider range for Phytolacca | Trees, shrubs, woody and semi-woody vines and herbaceous perennials. Indian pokeweed is a leaf vegetable in Asia. | Caryophyllales | |
| Plumbaginaceae | Plumbago, from a Latin plant name | 22 genera, worldwide | Shrubs, vines and herbaceous perennials. Armeria, Ceratostigma, Limonium and Plumbago are cultivated as ornamentals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Polygonaceae | Polygonum, from a Greek plant name | 56 genera, worldwide | Shrubs, trees, vines and herbaceous plants, some with hollow stems. Buckwheat is an ingredient in some pancakes and noodles. Leaf stalks of rhubarb are used to make jams and desserts. Edible tubers of coral vine are cultivated in Mexico. | Caryophyllales | |
| Portulacaceae | Portulaca, from a Latin plant name | 1 genus, mostly in warmer climates | Herbaceous succulents, frequently producing tubers. Purslane is a popular spongey-textured vegetable in many countries. | Caryophyllales | |
| Rhabdodendraceae | Rhabdodendron, from Greek for "rod tree" | 1 genus, in northeastern South America | Shrubs and small trees | Caryophyllales | |
| Santalaceae | Santalum, from a Greek plant name | 43 genera, widespread | Parasitic plants, including shrubs, trees and vines | Santalales | |
| Sarcobataceae | Sarcobatus, from Greek for "fleshy thorn bush" | 1 genus, in western North America | Shrubs with succulent leaves, woody stems, and many thorns | Caryophyllales | |
| Schoepfiaceae | Schoepfia, for Johann David Schoepff | 3 genera, in South America, tropical North America, and East Asia | Parasitic green shrubs, trees and herbaceous perennials | Santalales | |
| Simmondsiaceae | Simmondsia, for Thomas William Simmonds, an English doctor and naturalist | 1 genus, in southwestern North America | Just one species of unisexual evergreen shrubs. Jojoba oil is widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. | Caryophyllales | |
| Stegnospermataceae | Stegnosperma, from Greek for "dry seeds" | 1 genus, from Mexico to Nicaragua and in the Caribbean | Small trees and shrubs | Caryophyllales | |
| Talinaceae | Talinum, from Greek for "blooming lavishly", possibly | 2 genera, in the tropics and subtropics of the Americas and Africa | More or less herbaceous plants, frequently with root tubers. Some Talinum species are grown as vegetables, and fameflower is an ornamental. | Caryophyllales | |
| Tamaricaceae | Tamarix, from a Latin plant name | 4 genera, in dry and arid zones, scattered worldwide | Trees and shrubs with photosynthetic branchlets. The salt-tolerant Tamarix is used to control erosion of beaches and very dry soil. | Caryophyllales |