The APG III system recognized all of the 45 orders of the previous system, as well as 14 new ones. The order Ceratophyllales was erroneously marked as a new order, but it had been recognized in both of the previous APG systems. The newly recognized orders were:
Amborellales, Nymphaeales, Chloranthales, Petrosaviales, Trochodendrales, Buxales, Vitales, Zygophyllales, Picramniales, Huerteales, Berberidopsidales, Escalloniales, Bruniales, and Paracryphiales.
The designation of alternative "bracketed families" was abandoned in APG III, because its inclusion in the previous system had been unpopular. APG III recognized 413 families, 43 fewer than in the previous system. Forty-four of the 55 "bracketed families" were discontinued, and 20 other families were discontinued as well.
The discontinued bracketed families were:
Illiciaceae, Alliaceae, Agapanthaceae, Agavaceae, Aphyllanthaceae, Hesperocallidaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Laxmanniaceae, Ruscaceae, Themidaceae, Asphodelaceae, Hemerocallidaceae, Kingdoniaceae, Fumariaceae, Pteridophyllaceae, Didymelaceae, Tetracentraceae, Pterostemonaceae, Hypseocharitaceae, Francoaceae, Memecylaceae, Lepuropetalaceae, Rhoipteleaceae, Medusagynaceae, Quiinaceae, Malesherbiaceae, Turneraceae, Bretschneideraceae, Diegodendraceae, Cochlospermaceae, Peganaceae, Tetradiclidaceae, Nyssaceae, Ternstroemiaceae, Pellicieraceae, Aucubaceae, Donatiaceae, Lobeliaceae, Desfontainiaceae, Diervillaceae, Dipsacaceae, Linnaeaceae, Morinaceae, and Valerianaceae.
The other discontinued families were:
Limnocharitaceae, Luzuriagaceae, Sparganiaceae, Ixerbaceae, Ledocarpaceae, Heteropyxidaceae, Psiloxylaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, Parnassiaceae, Maesaceae, Myrsinaceae, Theophrastaceae, Eremosynaceae, Polyosmaceae, Tribelaceae, Sphenostemonaceae, Aralidiaceae, Mackinlayaceae, and Melanophyllaceae.
21 families were accepted in the APG III system which had not been in the previous system, and a few families were moved to a different position. The newly recognized families are:
Cynomoriaceae, Haptanthaceae, Petermanniaceae, Schoepfiaceae, Limeaceae, Lophiocarpaceae, Montiaceae, Talinaceae, Anacampserotaceae, Centroplacaceae, Calophyllaceae, Guamatelaceae, Gerrardinaceae, Dipentodontaceae, Capparidaceae, Cleomaceae, Cytinaceae, Mitrastemonaceae, Metteniusaceae, Linderniaceae, and Thomandersiaceae.
The number of families not placed in any order was reduced from 39 to 10. Apodanthaceae and Cynomoriaceae were placed among the angiosperms, incertae sedis, that is, not in any group within the angiosperms. Eight other families were placed incertae sedis in various supra-ordinal groups within the angiosperms. The families not placed in any order were:
Apodanthaceae, Cynomoriaceae, Dasypogonaceae, Sabiaceae, Dilleniaceae, Icacinaceae, Metteniusaceae, Oncothecaceae, Vahliaceae, and Boraginaceae.
The paragraph below shows the number of families in each order and the placement of those families that were not included in any order. These figures were produced by simply counting the families in the text of the paper that established APG III.
ORDERS: Amborellales (1), Nymphaeales (3), Austrobaileyales (3), Chloranthales (1), Canellales (2), Piperales (5), Magnoliales (6), Laurales (7), Acorales (1), Alismatales (13), Petrosaviales (1), Dioscoreales (3), Pandanales (5), Liliales (10), Asparagales (14), Arecales (1), Poales (16), Commelinales (5), Zingiberales (8), Ceratophyllales (1), Ranunculales (7), Proteales (3), Trochodendrales (1), Buxales (2), Gunnerales (2), Saxifragales (14), Vitales (1), Zygophyllales (2), Celastrales (2), Oxalidales (7), Malpighiales (35), Fabales (4), Rosales (9), Fagales (7), Cucurbitales (7), Geraniales (3), Myrtales (9), Crossosomatales (7), Picramniales (1), Sapindales (9), Huerteales (3), Brassicales (17), Malvales (10), Berberidopsidales (2), Santalales (7), Caryophyllales (34), Cornales (6), Ericales (22), Garryales (2), Gentianales (5), Solanales (5), Lamiales (23), Aquifoliales (5),Asterales (11), Escalloniales (1), Bruniales (2), Apiales (7), Paracryphiales (1), Dipsacales (2).
SUPRA-ORDINAL GROUPS: commelinids (1), basal eudicots (1), Pentapetalae (1), lamiids incertae sedis (3), core lamiids (2), angiosperms incertae sedis (2).
The circumscription of the family Icacinaceae remains especially doubtful. Apodytes and its close relative, Rhaphiostylis, as well as Emmotum, Cassinopsis, and a few other genera were provisionally retained within it until further studies can determine whether they properly belong there.
Three genera (Gumillea, Nicobariodendron, and Petenaea) were placed within the angiosperms incertae sedis. Gumillea had been unplaced in APG II. Nicobariodendron and Petenaea were newly added to the list. The latter was later placed into its own family Petenaeaceae in the order Huerteales
The classification is shown below in two versions. The short version goes to the level of orders and of families unplaced in an order. The detailed version shows all the families. Orders at the same level in the classification are arranged alphabetically. Note that orders may not contain the same families as in earlier versions of the APG system (APG system, APG II system). Further detail on relationships can be seen in the phylogenetic tree below.
clade angiosperms
clade magnoliids
clade monocots
clade commelinids
probable sister of eudicots
clade eudicots
clade core eudicots
clade rosids
clade fabids (eurosids I)
clade malvids (eurosids II)
(back to core eudicots)
Legend:
* = new family placement;
† = newly recognized order for the APG system;
§ = new family circumscription described in the text;
$ = families that represent the broader circumscription of options available in APG II and favoured here;
$$ = families that were in square brackets in APG II, the narrower circumscriptions favoured here.
†Amborellales Melikyan, A.V.Bobrov & Zaytzeva
Amborellaceae Pichon
†Nymphaeales Salisb. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
$$Cabombaceae Rich. ex A.Rich.
*Hydatellaceae U.Hamann
$$Nymphaeaceae Salisb.
Austrobaileyales Takht. ex Reveal
Austrobaileyaceae Croizat
$Schisandraceae Blume (including Illiciaceae A.C.Sm.)
Trimeniaceae L.S.Gibbs
†Chloranthales R.Br.
Chloranthaceae R.Br. ex Sims
Canellales Cronquist
Canellaceae Mart.
Winteraceae R.Br. ex Lindl.
Piperales Bercht. & J.Presl
Aristolochiaceae Juss.
Hydnoraceae C.Agardh
Lactoridaceae Engl.
Piperaceae Giseke
Saururaceae F.Voigt
Laurales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Atherospermataceae R.Br.
Calycanthaceae Lindl.
Gomortegaceae Reiche
Hernandiaceae Blume
Lauraceae Juss.
Monimiaceae Juss.
Siparunaceae Schodde
Magnoliales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Annonaceae Juss.
Degeneriaceae I.W.Bailey & A.C.Sm.
Eupomatiaceae Orb.
Himantandraceae Diels
Magnoliaceae Juss.
Myristicaceae R.Br.
Acorales Link
Acoraceae Martinov
Alismatales R.Br. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
§Alismataceae Vent. (including Limnocharitaceae Takht. ex Cronquist)
Aponogetonaceae Planch.
Araceae Juss.
Butomaceae Mirb.
Cymodoceaceae Vines
Hydrocharitaceae Juss.
Juncaginaceae Rich.
Posidoniaceae Vines
Potamogetonaceae Bercht. & J.Presl
Ruppiaceae Horan.
Scheuchzeriaceae F.Rudolphi
Tofieldiaceae Takht.
Zosteraceae Dumort.
†Petrosaviales Takht.
Petrosaviaceae Hutch.
Dioscoreales R.Br.
Burmanniaceae Blume
Dioscoreaceae R.Br.
Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon
Pandanales R.Br. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Cyclanthaceae Poit. ex A.Rich.
Pandanaceae R.Br.
Stemonaceae Caruel
Triuridaceae Gardner
Velloziaceae J.Agardh
Liliales Perleb
§Alstroemeriaceae Dumort. (including Luzuriagaceae Lotsy)
Campynemataceae Dumort.
Colchicaceae DC.
Corsiaceae Becc.
Liliaceae Juss.
Melanthiaceae Batsch ex Borkh.
*Petermanniaceae Hutch.
Philesiaceae Dumort.
Ripogonaceae Conran & Clifford
Smilacaceae Vent.
Asparagales Link
$Amaryllidaceae J.St.-Hil. (including Agapanthaceae F.Voigt, Alliaceae Borkh.)
$Asparagaceae Juss. (including Agavaceae Dumort., Aphyllanthaceae Burnett, Hesperocallidaceae Traub, Hyacinthaceae Batsch ex Borkh., Laxmanniaceae Bubani, Ruscaceae M.Roem., Themidaceae Salisb.)
Asteliaceae Dumort.
Blandfordiaceae R.Dahlgren & Clifford
Boryaceae M.W.Chase, Rudall & Conran
Doryanthaceae R.Dahlgren & Clifford
Hypoxidaceae R.Br.
Iridaceae Juss.
Ixioliriaceae Nakai
Lanariaceae R.Dahlgren & A.E.van Wyk
Orchidaceae Juss.
Tecophilaeaceae Leyb.
$Xanthorrhoeaceae Dumort. (including Asphodelaceae Juss. and Hemerocallidaceae R.Br.)
Xeronemataceae M.W.Chase, Rudall & M.F.Fay
Dasypogonaceae Dumort.
Arecales Bromhead
Arecaceae Bercht. & J.Presl
Commelinales Mirb. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Commelinaceae Mirb.
Haemodoraceae R.Br.
Hanguanaceae Airy Shaw
Philydraceae Link
Pontederiaceae Kunth
Poales Small
Anarthriaceae D.F.Cutler & Airy Shaw
Bromeliaceae Juss.
Centrolepidaceae Endl.
Cyperaceae Juss.
Ecdeiocoleaceae D.F.Cutler & Airy Shaw
Eriocaulaceae Martinov
Flagellariaceae Dumort.
Joinvilleaceae Toml. & A.C.Sm.
Juncaceae Juss.
Mayacaceae Kunth
Poaceae Barnhart
Rapateaceae Dumort.
Restionaceae R.Br.
Thurniaceae Engl.
§Typhaceae Juss. (including Sparganiaceae Hanin)
Xyridaceae C.Agardh
Zingiberales Griseb.
Cannaceae Juss.
Costaceae Nakai
Heliconiaceae Vines
Lowiaceae Ridl.
Marantaceae R.Br.
Musaceae Juss.
Strelitziaceae Hutch.
Zingiberaceae Martinov
Ceratophyllales Link
Ceratophyllaceae Gray
Ranunculales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Berberidaceae Juss.
$Circaeasteraceae Hutch. (including Kingdoniaceae Airy Shaw)
Eupteleaceae K.Wilh.
Lardizabalaceae R.Br.
Menispermaceae Juss.
$Papaveraceae Juss. (including Fumariaceae Marquis, Pteridophyllaceae Nakai ex Reveal & Hoogland)
Ranunculaceae Juss.
Sabiaceae Blume
Proteales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Nelumbonaceae A.Rich.
$$Platanaceae T.Lestib.
$$Proteaceae Juss.
†Trochodendrales Takht. ex Cronquist
$Trochodendraceae Eichler (including Tetracentraceae A.C.Sm.)
†Buxales Takht. ex Reveal
$Buxaceae Dumort. (including Didymelaceae Leandri)
*Haptanthaceae C.Nelson
Gunnerales Takht. ex Reveal
$$Gunneraceae Meisn.
$$Myrothamnaceae Nied.
Dilleniaceae Salisb.
Saxifragales Bercht. & J.Presl
Altingiaceae Horan.
Aphanopetalaceae Doweld
Cercidiphyllaceae Engl.
Crassulaceae J.St.-Hil.
Daphniphyllaceae Müll.-Arg.
Grossulariaceae DC.
$$Haloragaceae R.Br.
Hamamelidaceae R.Br.
$Iteaceae J.Agardh (including Pterostemonaceae Small)
Paeoniaceae Raf.
$$Penthoraceae Rydb. ex Britt.
*§Peridiscaceae Kuhlm. (including Medusandraceae Brenan, Soyauxia Oliver)
Saxifragaceae Juss.
$$Tetracarpaeaceae Nakai
†Berberidopsidales Doweld
Aextoxicaceae Engl. & Gilg
Berberidopsidaceae Takht.
Santalales R.Br. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
*Balanophoraceae Rich.
Loranthaceae Juss.
Misodendraceae J.Agardh
Santalaceae R.Br.
Olacaceae R.Br.
Opiliaceae Valeton
*Schoepfiaceae Blume
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Achatocarpaceae Heimerl
Aizoaceae Martinov
Amaranthaceae Juss.
*Anacampserotaceae Eggli & Nyffeler
Ancistrocladaceae Planch. ex Walp.
Asteropeiaceae Takht. ex Reveal & Hoogland
Barbeuiaceae Nakai
Basellaceae Raf.
Cactaceae Juss.
Caryophyllaceae Juss.
§Didiereaceae Radlk.
Dioncophyllaceae Airy Shaw
Droseraceae Salisb.
Drosophyllaceae Chrtek, Slavíková & Studnicka
Frankeniaceae Desv.
Gisekiaceae Nakai
Halophytaceae A.Soriano
*Limeaceae Shipunov ex Reveal
*Lophiocarpaceae Doweld & Reveal
§Molluginaceae Bartl.
*Montiaceae Raf.
Nepenthaceae Dumort.
Nyctaginaceae Juss.
Physenaceae Takht.
Phytolaccaceae R.Br.
Plumbaginaceae Juss.
Polygonaceae Juss.
§Portulacaceae Juss.
Rhabdodendraceae Prance
Sarcobataceae Behnke
Simmondsiaceae Tiegh.
Stegnospermataceae Nakai
*Talinaceae Doweld
Tamaricaceae Link
†Vitales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Vitaceae Juss.
†Zygophyllales Link
$$Krameriaceae Dumort.
$$Zygophyllaceae R.Br.
Celastrales Link
$Celastraceae R.Br. (including Lepuropetalaceae Nakai, Parnassiaceae Martinov, Pottingeriaceae Takht.)
Lepidobotryaceae J.Léonard
Oxalidales Bercht. & J.Presl
Brunelliaceae Engl.
Cephalotaceae Dumort.
Connaraceae R.Br.
Cunoniaceae R.Br.
Elaeocarpaceae Juss. ex DC.
*Huaceae A.Chev.
Oxalidaceae R.Br.
Malpighiales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Achariaceae Harms
Balanopaceae Benth. & Hook.f.
Bonnetiaceae L.Beauvis. ex Nakai
*Calophyllaceae J.Agardh
Caryocaraceae Voigt
*Centroplacaceae Doweld & Reveal
$$Chrysobalanaceae R.Br.
§Clusiaceae Lindl.
Ctenolophonaceae Exell & Mendonça
$$Dichapetalaceae Baill.
Elatinaceae Dumort.
$$§Erythroxylaceae Kunth (including Aneulophus Benth.)
Euphorbiaceae Juss.
$$Euphroniaceae Marc.-Berti
Goupiaceae Miers
Humiriaceae A.Juss.
Hypericaceae Juss.
Irvingiaceae Exell & Mendonça
Ixonanthaceae Planch. ex Miq.
Lacistemataceae Mart.
Linaceae DC. ex Perleb
Lophopyxidaceae H.Pfeiff.
Malpighiaceae Juss.
$Ochnaceae DC. (including Medusagynaceae Engl. & Gilg, Quiinaceae Choisy)
Pandaceae Engl. & Gilg
$Passifloraceae Juss. ex Roussel (including Malesherbiaceae D.Don, Turneraceae Kunth ex DC.)
Phyllanthaceae Martinov
Picrodendraceae Small
Podostemaceae Rich. ex Kunth
Putranjivaceae Meisn.
*Rafflesiaceae Dumort.
$$Rhizophoraceae Pers.
Salicaceae Mirb.
$$Trigoniaceae A.Juss.
Violaceae Batsch
Cucurbitales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Anisophylleaceae Ridl.
Begoniaceae C.Agardh
Coriariaceae DC.
Corynocarpaceae Engl.
Cucurbitaceae Juss.
Datiscaceae Dumort.
Tetramelaceae Airy Shaw
Fabales Bromhead
Fabaceae Lindl.
Polygalaceae Hoffmanns. & Link
Quillajaceae D.Don
Surianaceae Arn.
Fagales Engl.
Betulaceae Gray
Casuarinaceae R.Br.
Fagaceae Dumort.
§Juglandaceae DC. ex Perleb (including Rhoipteleaceae Hand.-Mazz.)
Myricaceae A.Rich. ex Kunth
Nothofagaceae Kuprian
Ticodendraceae Gómez-Laur. & L.D.Gómez
Rosales Bercht. & J.Presl
Barbeyaceae Rendle
Cannabaceae Martinov
Dirachmaceae Hutch.
Elaeagnaceae Juss.
Moraceae Gaudich.
Rhamnaceae Juss.
Rosaceae Juss.
Ulmaceae Mirb.
Urticaceae Juss.
Geraniales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
$Geraniaceae Juss. (including Hypseocharitaceae Wedd.)
$Melianthaceae Horan. (including Francoaceae A.Juss.)
§Vivianiaceae Klotzsch (including Ledocarpaceae Meyen)
Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Alzateaceae S.A.Graham
Combretaceae R.Br.
Crypteroniaceae A.DC.
Lythraceae J.St.-Hil.
$Melastomataceae Juss. (including Memecylaceae DC.)
§Myrtaceae Juss. (including Heteropyxidaceae Engl. & Gilg, Psiloxylaceae Croizat)
Onagraceae Juss.
§Penaeaceae Sweet ex Guill. (including Oliniaceae Arn., Rhynchocalycaceae L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs)
Vochysiaceae A.St.-Hil.
Crossosomatales Takht. ex Reveal
*Aphloiaceae Takht.
Crossosomataceae Engl.
*Geissolomataceae A.DC.
*Guamatelaceae S.Oh & D.Potter
Stachyuraceae J.Agardh
Staphyleaceae Martinov
*§Strasburgeriaceae Soler. (including Ixerbaceae Griseb. ex Doweld & Reveal)
†Picramniales Doweld
*Picramniaceae Fernando & Quinn
†Huerteales Doweld
*Dipentodontaceae Merr.
*Gerrardinaceae Alford
Tapisciaceae Takht.
Brassicales Bromhead
$Akaniaceae Stapf (including Bretschneideraceae Engl. & Gilg)
Bataceae Mart. ex Perleb
§Brassicaceae Burnett
*Capparaceae Juss.
Caricaceae Dumort.
*Cleomaceae Bercht. & J.Presl
Emblingiaceae J.Agardh
Gyrostemonaceae A.Juss.
Koeberliniaceae Engl.
Limnanthaceae R.Br.
Moringaceae Martinov
Pentadiplandraceae Hutch. & Dalziel
Resedaceae Martinov
Salvadoraceae Lindl.
Setchellanthaceae Iltis
Tovariaceae Pax
Tropaeolaceae Juss. ex DC.
Malvales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
$Bixaceae Kunth (including Cochlospermaceae Planch., Diegodendraceae Capuron)
Cistaceae Juss.
*Cytinaceae A.Rich.
Dipterocarpaceae Blume
Malvaceae Juss.
Muntingiaceae C.Bayer, M.W.Chase & M.F.Fay
Neuradaceae Kostel.
Sarcolaenaceae Caruel
Sphaerosepalaceae Tiegh. ex Bullock
Thymelaeaceae Juss.
Sapindales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Anacardiaceae R.Br.
Biebersteiniaceae Schnizl.
Burseraceae Kunth
Kirkiaceae Takht.
Meliaceae Juss.
$Nitrariaceae Lindl. (including Peganaceae Tiegh. ex Takht., Tetradiclidaceae Takht.)
Rutaceae Juss.
Sapindaceae Juss.
Simaroubaceae DC.
Cornales Link.
Cornaceae Bercht. & J.Presl (including Nyssaceae Juss. ex Dumort.)
Curtisiaceae Takht.
Grubbiaceae Endl. ex Meisn.
Hydrangeaceae Dumort.
Hydrostachyaceae Engl.
Loasaceae Juss.
Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl
Actinidiaceae Engl. & Gilg.
Balsaminaceae A.Rich.
Clethraceae Klotzsch
Cyrillaceae Lindl.
Diapensiaceae Lindl.
Ebenaceae Gürke
Ericaceae Juss.
Fouquieriaceae DC.
Lecythidaceae A.Rich.
Marcgraviaceae Bercht. & J.Presl
*Mitrastemonaceae Makino
$Pentaphylacaceae Engl. (including Ternstroemiaceae Mirb. ex DC.)
Polemoniaceae Juss.
§Primulaceae Batsch ex Borkh. (including Maesaceae Anderb., B.Ståhl & Källersjö, Myrsinaceae R.Br., Theophrastaceae G.Don)
Roridulaceae Martinov
Sapotaceae Juss.
Sarraceniaceae Dumort.
$$Sladeniaceae Airy Shaw
Styracaceae DC. & Spreng.
Symplocaceae Desf.
$Tetrameristaceae Hutch. (including Pellicieraceae L.Beauvis.)
Theaceae Mirb. ex Ker Gawl.
§*Boraginaceae Juss. (including Hoplestigmataceae Gilg)
Vahliaceae Dandy
Icacinaceae Miers
Metteniusaceae H.Karst. ex Schnizl.
Oncothecaceae Kobuski ex Airy Shaw
Garryales Lindl.
Eucommiaceae Engl.
$Garryaceae Lindl. (including Aucubaceae Bercht. & J.Presl)
Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Apocynaceae Juss.
Gelsemiaceae Struwe & V.A.Albert
Gentianaceae Juss.
Loganiaceae R.Br. ex Mart.
Rubiaceae Juss.
Lamiales Bromhead
§Acanthaceae Juss.
Bignoniaceae Juss.
Byblidaceae Domin
Calceolariaceae Olmstead
Carlemanniaceae Airy Shaw
Gesneriaceae Rich. & Juss.
Lamiaceae Martinov
*Linderniaceae Borsch, K.Müll., & Eb.Fisch.
Lentibulariaceae Rich.
Martyniaceae Horan.
Oleaceae Hoffmanns. & Link
Orobanchaceae Vent.
Paulowniaceae Nakai
Pedaliaceae R.Br.
Phrymaceae Schauer
§Plantaginaceae Juss.
Plocospermataceae Hutch.
Schlegeliaceae Reveal
Scrophulariaceae Juss.
Stilbaceae Kunth
Tetrachondraceae Wettst.
*Thomandersiaceae Sreem.
Verbenaceae J.St.-Hil.
Solanales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Convolvulaceae Juss.
Hydroleaceae R.Br. ex Edwards
Montiniaceae Nakai
Solanaceae Juss.
Sphenocleaceae T.Baskerv.
Aquifoliales Senft
Aquifoliaceae Bercht. & J.Presl
§Cardiopteridaceae Blume (including Leptaulaceae Tiegh.)
Helwingiaceae Decne.
Phyllonomaceae Small
Stemonuraceae Kårehed
Asterales Link
Alseuosmiaceae Airy Shaw
Argophyllaceae Takht.
Asteraceae Bercht. & J.Presl
Calyceraceae R.Br. ex Rich.
$Campanulaceae Juss. (including Lobeliaceae Juss.)
Goodeniaceae R.Br.
Menyanthaceae Dumort.
Pentaphragmataceae J.Agardh
Phellinaceae Takht.
Rousseaceae DC.
$Stylidiaceae R.Br. (including Donatiaceae B.Chandler)
†Escalloniales R.Br.
§Escalloniaceae R.Br. ex Dumort. (including Eremosynaceae Dandy, Polyosmaceae Blume, Tribelaceae Airy Shaw)
†Bruniales Dumort.
Bruniaceae R.Br. ex DC.
§Columelliaceae D.Don (including Desfontainiaceae Endl.)
†Paracryphiales Takht. ex Reveal
§Paracryphiaceae Airy Shaw (including *Quintiniaceae Doweld, Sphenostemonaceae P.Royen & Airy Shaw)
Dipsacales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Adoxaceae E.Mey.
§Caprifoliaceae Juss. (including Diervillaceae Pyck, Dipsacaceae Juss., Linnaeaceae Backlund, Morinaceae Raf., Valerianaceae Batsch)
Apiales Nakai
Apiaceae Lindl. (including Mackinlayaceae)
Araliaceae Juss.
Griseliniaceae J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. ex A.Cunn.
Myodocarpaceae Doweld
Pennantiaceae J.Agardh
Pittosporaceae R.Br.
§Torricelliaceae Hu (including Aralidiaceae Philipson & B.C.Stone, Melanophyllaceae Takht. ex Airy Shaw)
Apodanthaceae Takht. (three genera, now in Cucurbitales)
Cynomoriaceae Endl. ex Lindl.
Gumillea Ruiz & Pav.
Petenaea Lundell (now in Huerteales)
Nicobariodendron (see Simmons, 2004; probably in Celastraceae).
The APG III system was based on a phylogenetic tree for the angiosperms which included all of the 59 orders and 4 of the unplaced families. The systematic positions of the other 6 unplaced families was so uncertain that they could not be placed in any of the polytomies in the tree. They are shown in the classification table entitled "Detailed version" above, 4 in Euasterids I and 2 in Taxa of uncertain position.
The phylogenetic tree shown below was published with the APG III system, but without some of the labels that are added here.
A number of subfamilies have been proposed to replace some of the families which were optional (i.e. bracketed) in APG II, but have been discontinued in APG III. These are shown in the table below.
