In a newly published article (July 2000) entitled "Higher-level systematics of the monocotyledons: An assessment of current knowledge and a new classification" in Monocots: Systematics and evolution, edited by K.L.Wilson and D.A. Morrison (Collingswood, Australia: CSIRO), Mark W. Chase, Douglas E. Soltis, Pamela S. Soltis, Paula J. Rudall, Michael F. Fay, William H. Hahn, Stuart Sullivan, Jeffrey Joseph, Thomas J. Givinish, Kenneth J. Systma and J. Chris Pires have proposed a modification of the orders and families as given recently by Bremer et al. (the so-called "APG" or "Angiosperm Phylogeny Group") published in Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 85: 531-553. 1999 ["1998"].
Chase and colleagues present the results of a combined analysis using three genes (two plastid and one nuclear) characterizing 126 different monocotyledonous entities. The Acoraceae remain the sister taxon to the rest of the group. Although not termed such, this group is here called the Acoranae. The remaining orders and families fall into two major groups. The first I have termed here the Alismatidae. This taxon includes the traditional alismatalian members plus the Araceae and Tofieldiaceae. The last group was termed the "liloids" by Chase et al., but this is converted here to a formal rank, Lilianae. The latter is divided into several orders.
The following nomenclatural summary (at the ranks of order and family only) follows the alphabetical sequence presented by the authors. To this I have added authorships and synonymy (for more complete bibliographic information see my Conspectus of the monocotyledonous angiosperm families in The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants by Kubitzki). However, following the sequence of groupings presented in their figure 2, I have attempted a linear summary of the superorders, orders and families (see below).
In addition, I have altered the family nomenclature slightly, adopting the conserved (and now oldest) family name Ruscaceae instead of Convallariaceae, and have substituted Najadaceae (1783) for Hydrocharitaceae. In a recent communication, Chase stated that he now believes Taccaceae and Trichopodaceae, adopted in their paper, should be reduced to synonymy under Dioscoreaceae. Furthermore, he suggested that eventually Petrosaviaceae and Nartheciaceae will fit into Dioscoreales and Corsiaceae will fall into Liliales. As for Dasypogonaceae, he felt this will probably be assigned to the Arecales. As these suggestions are not firm, I retain the above families unresolved as given in the Chase et al. paper.
I have not seen a valid place of publication for "Xeronemataceae" (sometime incorrectly given as "Xeronemaceae").
In my own work I considered the monocotyledonous angiosperms to form a distinct class, the Liliopsida Batsch (1802), with a series of subclasses (New supraordinal names in Magnoliophyta and the recognition of five classes in the division. Phytologia 76: 1-7. 1994). I suspect the rank that will ultimately be accorded the monocotyledons will be the subclass, namely Liliidae J.H. Schaffn. (1911).
Unclassified
Corsiaceae Becc., nom. cons. (1878)
PetrosaviaceaeHutch., nom. cons. (1934)
Japonoliriaceae Takht. (1996)
Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon (1846)
Lophiolaceae Nakai (1943)
Acoranae Reveal (1997)
Acorales Reveal (1996)
Acoraceae Martinov (1820)
Alismatanae Takht. (1967)
Alismatales Dumort. (1829)
Aponogetonales Hutch. (1934)
Arales Dumort. (1829)
Butomales Hutch. (1934)
Cymodoceales Nakai (1943)
Elodeales Nakai (1950)
Hydrocharitales Dumort. (1829)
Juncaginales Hutch. (1934)
Najadales Dumort. (1829)
Posidoniales Nakai (1943)
Potamogetonales Dumort. (1829)
Ruppiales Nakai (1950)
Scheuchzeriales B. Boivin (1956)
Tofieldiales Reveal & Zomlefer (1998)
Vallisneriales Nakai (1949)
Zosterales Nakai (1943)
Alismataceae Vent., nom. cons. (1799)
Damasoniaceae Nakai (1943)
Aponogetonaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Araceae Adans., nom. cons. (1763)
Arisaraceae Raf. (1838)
Caladiaceae Salisb. (1866)
Callaceae Rchb. ex Bartl. (1830)
Cryptocorynaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Dracontiaceae Salisb. (1866)
Lemnaceae Martynov, nom. cons. (1821)
Lentiscaceae Horan. (1843)
Orontiaceae Bartl. (1830)
Pistiaceae Rich. ex C. Agardh (1822)
Pothaceae Raf. (1838)
Wolffiaceae Bubani (1901-1902)
Butomaceae Mirb., nom. cons. (1804)
Cymodoceaceae N. Taylor, nom. cons. (1909)
Najadaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Blyxaceae Nakai (1949)
Elodeaceae Dumort. (1829)
Enhalaceae Nakai (1943)
Halophilaceae J. Agardh (1958)
Hydrillaceae Prantl (1880)
Hydrocharitaceae Juss., nom. cons. (1789)
Stratiotaceae Link (1829)
Thalassiaceae Nakai (1943)
Vallisneriaceae Link (1829)
Juncaginaceae Rich., nom. cons. (1808)
Heterostylaceae Hutch. (1934)
Lilaeaceae Dumort. (1829)
Maundiaceae Nakai (1943)
Triglochinaceae Chevall. (1827)
Limnocharitaceae Takht. ex Cronquist (1981)
Posidoniaceae Hutch., nom. cons. (1934)
Potamogetonaceae Rchb., nom. cons. (1828)
Hydrogetonaceae Link (1829)
Zannichelliaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Ruppiaceae Horan., nom. cons. (1834)
Scheuchzeriaceae F. Rudolphi,, nom. cons. (1830)
Tofieldiaceae Takht. (1995)
Zosteraceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Lilianae Takht. (1967)
Asparagales Bromhead (1838)
Agavales Hutch. (1934)
Alliales Traub (1972)
Amaryllidales Bromhead (1840)
Asteliales Dumort. (1829)
Hypoxidales Takht. ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Iridales Raf. (1815)
Ixiales Lindl. (1835)
Tecophilaeales Traub ex Reveal (1993)
Xanthorrhoeales Takht. ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Agapanthaceae Voigt (1850)
Agavaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Hostaceae B. Mathew (1988)
Yuccaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Alliaceae Batsch, nom. cons. (1786)
Cepaceae Salisb. (1866)
Gilliesiaceae Lindl. (1826)
Milulaceae Traub (1972)
Tulbaghiaceae Salisb. (1866)
Amaryllidaceae J. St.-Hil., nom. cons. (1805)
Brunsvigiaceae Horan. (1834)
Crinaceae Vest (1818)
Cyrtanthaceae Salisb. (1866)
Galanthaceae G. Mey. (1836)
Gethyllidaceae Raf. (1838)
Haemanthaceae Salisb. (1866)
Leucojaceae Batsch (1786)
Narcissaceae Durande (1782)
Oporanthaceae Salisb. (1866)
Pancratiaceae Horan. (1847)
Strumariaceae Salisb. (1866)
Zephyranthaceae Salisb. (1866)
Anemarrhenaceae Conran, M.W. Chase & Rudall (1997)
Anthericaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Aphyllanthaceae Burnett (1835)
Asparagaceae Juss., nom. cons. (1789)
Asphodelaceae Juss. (1789)
Aloaceae Batsch (1802)
Asteliaceae Dumort. (1829)
Behniaceae Conran, M.W. Chase & Rudall (1997)
Blandfordiaceae R. Dahlgren & Clifford (1985)
Boryaceae M.W. Chase, Rudall & Conran (1997)
Ruscaceae Spreng., nom. cons. (1826)
Aspidistraceae Endl. (1841)
Convallariaceae Horan. (1834)
Dracaenaceae Salisb. (1866)
Nolinaceae Nakai (1943)
Ophiopogonaceae Endl. (1841)
Peliosanthaceae Salisb. (1866)
Polygonataceae Salisb. (1866)
Sansevieriaceae Nakai (1936)
Tupistraceae Schnizl. (1846)
Doryanthaceae R. Dahlgren & Clifford (1985)
Hemerocallidaceae R. Br. (1810)
Dianellaceae Salisb. (1866)
Geitonoplesiaceae R. Dahlgr. ex Conran (1994)
Johnsoniaceae Lotsy (1911)
Phormiaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Herreriaceae Endl. (1841)
Hesperocallidaceae Traub (1972)
Hyacinthaceae Batsch (1786)
Eucomidaceae Salisb. (1866)
Lachenaliaceae Salisb. (1866)
Ornithogalaceae Salisb. (1866)
Scillaceae Vest (1818)
Hypoxidaceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1814)
Iridaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Crocaceae Vest (1818)
Galaxiaceae Raf. (1836)
Geosiridaceae Jonker, nom. cons. (1939)
Gladiolaceae Raf. (1838)
Isophysidaceae F.A. Barkley (1948)
Ixiaceae Horan. (1834)
Ixioliriaceae Nakai (1943)
Lanariaceae H. Huber ex R. Dahlgren & A.E. van Wyk (1988)
Laxmanniaceae Bubani (1901-1902)
Eustrephaceae Chupov (1994)
Lomandraceae Lotsy (1911)
Orchidaceae Adans., nom. cons. (1763)
Apostasiaceae Lindl. (1833)
Cypripediaceae Lindl. (1833)
Limodoraceae Horan. (1847)
Neottiaceae Horan. (1834)
Neuwiediaceae R. Dahlgren ex Reveal & Hoogland (1991)
Vanillaceae Lindl. (1835)
Tecophilaeaceae Leyb., nom. cons. (1862)
Androsynaceae Salisb. (1866)
Conantheraceae Pfeiff. (1873)
Cyanastraceae Engl., nom. cons. (1900)
Cyanellaceae Salisb. (1866)
Eriospermaceae Endl. (1841)
Walleriaceae Takht., nom. cons. (1995)
Themidaceae Salisb. (1866)
Xanthorrhoeaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
"Xeronemataceae"
Dioscoreales Hook.f. (1873)
Burmanniales Heintze (1927)
Taccales Dumort. (1829)
Tamales Dumort. (1829)
Burmanniaceae Blume, nom. cons. (1827)
Dioscoreaceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1810)
Avetraceae Takht. (1997)
Stenomeridaceae J. Agardh, nom. cons. (1858)
Taccaceae Bercht. & J. Presl, nom. cons. (1820)
Tamaceae Martinov (1820)
Tamnaceae J. Kickx f. (1826)
Trichopodaceae Hutch., nom. cons. (1934)
Thismiaceae J. Agardh, nom. cons. (1858)
Liliales Perleb (1826)
Alstroemeriales Hutch. (1934)
Colchicales Dumort. (1829)
Melanthiales R. Dahlgren ex Reveal (1992)
Paridales Dumort. (1829)
Trilliales Takht. (1997)
Veratrales Dumort. (1829)
Alstroemeriaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Campynemataceae Dumort. (1829)
Colchicaceae DC., nom. cons. (1804)
Bulbocodiaceae Salisb. (1866)
Burchardiaceae Takht. (1996)
Compsoaceae Horan. (1834)
Merenderaceae Mirb. (1804)
Petermanniaceae Hutch., nom. cons. (1934)
Uvulariaceae A. Gray ex Kunth, nom. cons. (1843)
Liliaceae Adans., nom. cons. (1763)
Calochortaceae Dumort. (1829)
Erythroniaceae Martinov (1820)
Fritillariaceae Salisb. (1866)
Liriaceae Batsch (1786)
Medeolaceae Takht. (1987)
Scoliopaceae Takht. (1996)
Tricyrtidaceae Takht., nom. cons. (1997)
Tulipaceae Batsch (1786)
Luzuriagaceae Lotsy (1911)
Melanthiaceae Batsch, nom. cons. (1786)
Chionographidaceae Takht. (1996)
Heloniadaceae J. Agardh (1858)
Paridaceae Dumort. (1827)
Trilliaceae Chevall., nom. cons. (1827)
Xerophyllaceae Takht. (1996)
Veratraceae Salisb. (1807)
Philesiaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Rhipogonaceae Conran & Clifford (1985)
Smilacaceae Vent., nom. cons. (1799)
Pandanales Lindl. (1833)
Stemonales Takht. (1995)
Triuridales Hook.f. (1876)
Velloziales R. Dahlgren ex Reveal (1992)
Cyclanthaceae Poit. ex A. Rich., nom. cons. (1824)
Pandanaceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1810)
Freycinetiaceae Brongn. ex Le Maout & Decne. (1868)
Stemonaceae Caruel, nom. cons. (1878)
Croomiaceae Nakai (1937)
Pentastemonaceae Duyfjes (1992)
Roxburghiaceae Wall. (1832)
Triuridaceae Gardner, nom. cons. (1843)
Lacandoniaceae E. Mart¡nes & Ramos (1989)
Velloziaceae Hook., nom. cons. (1827)
Acanthochlamydaceae P.C. Kao (1989)
Barbaceniaceae Arn. (1832)
Commelinanae Takht. (1967)
Unplaced
Dasypogonaceae Dumort. (1829)
Baxteriaceae Takht. (1996)
Calectasiaceae Endl. (1838)
Kingiaceae Endl. (1838)
Arecales Bromhead (1840)
Cocosales Nakai (1930)
Arecaceae Schultz Sch., nom. cons. (1832)
Acristaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Borassaceae Schultz Sch. (1832)
Calamaceae Kunth ex Perleb (1838)
Ceroxylaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Chamaedoreaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Cocosaceae Schultz Sch. (1832)
Coryphaceae Schultz Sch. (1832)
Geonomataceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Iriarteaceae O.F. Cook & Doyle (1913)
Lepidocaryaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Malortieaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Manicariaceae O.F. Cook (1910)
Nypaceae Brongn. ex Le Maout & Decne. (1868)
Palmae Adans., nom. cons. et nom. alt. (1763)
Phoenicaceae Burnett (1835)
Phytellephaceae Mart. ex Perleb (1838)
Pseudophoenicaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Sabalaceae Schultz Sch. (1832)
Sagaceae Schultz Sch., nom. illeg. (1832)
Synechanthaceae O.F. Cook (1913)
Commelinales Dumort. (1829)
Haemodorales Hutch. (1934)
Hanguanales R. Dahlgren ex Reveal (1992)
Philydrales Dumort. (1829)
Pontederiales Hook.f. (1876)
Commelinaceae Mirb., nom. cons. (1804)
Cartonemataceae Pichon, nom. cons. (1946)
Tradescantiaceae Salisb. (1807)
Haemodoraceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1810)
Conostylidaceae Takht. (1987)
Dilatridaceae M. Roem. (1840)
Wachendorfiaceae Herb. (1837)
Xiphidiaceae Dumort. (1829)
Hanguanaceae Airy Shaw (1964)
Philydraceae Link, nom. cons. (1821)
Pontederiaceae Kunth, nom. cons. (1816)
Heterantheraceae J. Agardh (1858)
Unisemataceae Raf. (1837)
Poales Small (1903)
Avenales Bromhead (1838)
Centrolepidales R. Dahlgren ex Takht. (1997)
Cyperales Hutch. (1934)
Eriocaulales Nakai (1930)
Flagellariales Takht. ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Hydatellales Cronquist ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Juncales Dumort. (1829)
Mayacales Nakai (1943)
Rapateales Colella ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Restionales J.H. Schaffn. (1929)
Typhales Dumort. (1829)
Xyridales Lindl. (1846)
Anarthriaceae D.F. Cutler & Airy Shaw (1965)
Bromeliaceae Juss., nom. cons. (1789)
Tillandsiaceae Wilbr. (1834)
Centrolepidaceae Endl., nom. cons. (1836)
Cyperaceae Juss., nom. cons. (1789)
Caricaceae Burnett, nom. illeg. (1835)
Kobresiaceae Gilly (1952)
Papyraceae Burnett (1835)
Scirpaceae Batsch (1786)
Ecdeiocoleaceae D.F. Cutler & Airy Shaw (1965)
Eriocaulaceae Martynov, nom. cons. (1820)
Flagellariaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Hydatellaceae U. Hamann (1976)
Joinvilleaceae Toml. & A.C. Sm. (1970)
Juncaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Mayacaceae Kunth, nom. cons. (1842)
Poaceae Caruel, nom. cons. (1881)
Aegilopaceae Martinov (1820)
Agrostidaceae Burnett (1835)
Alopecuraceae Martinov (1820)
Andropogonaceae Martinov (1820)
Anomochloaceae Nakai (1943)
Anthoxanthaceae Pfeiff. (1872)
Arundinaceae Hochst. (1850)
Arundinellaceae Herter (1940)
Asperellaceae Link ex Pfeiff. (1872)
Avenaceae Martinov (1820)
Bambusaceae Burnett (1835)
Chaeturaceae Link ex Pfeiff. (1873)
Chloridaceae Herter (1940)
Coleanthaceae Pfeiff. (1873)
Cynosuraceae Pfeiff. (1873)
Echinariaceae Pfeiff. (1874)
Ehrhartaceae Pfeiff. (1874)
Eragrostidaceae Herter (1940)
Festucaceae Spreng. ex Pfeiff. (1874)
Glyceriaceae Pfeiff. (1874)
Gramineae Juss., nom. cons. et nom. alt. (1789)
Hordeaceae Burnett (1835)
Lepturaceae Herter (1940)
Melicaceae Martinov (1820)
Miliaceae Burnett (1835)
Nardaceae Martinov (1820)
Oryzaceae Burnett (1835)
Panicaceae Voigt (1845)
Pappophoraceae Herter (1940)
Parianaceae Nakai (1943)
Paspalaceae Pfeiff. (1873)
Phalaridaceae Burnett (1835)
Pharaceae Herter (1940)
Saccharaceae Martinov (1820)
Spartinaceae Burnett (1835)
Sporobolaceae Herter (1941)
Stipaceae Burnett (1835)
Streptochaetaceae Nakai (1943)
Triticaceae Hochst. (1848)
Zeaceae A. Kern. (1891)
Rapateaceae Dumort., nom. cons. (1829)
Restionaceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1810)
Elegiaceae Raf. (1838)
Sparganiaceae Hanin, nom. cons. (1811)
Thurniaceae Engl., nom. cons. (1907)
Prioniaceae S.L. Munro & H. P. Linder (1998)
Typhaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Xyridaceae C. Agardh, nom. cons. (1823)
Abolbodaceae Nakai (1943)
Zingiberales Griseb. (1854)
Amomales Lindl. (1835)
Cannales Dumort. (1829)
Lowiales Takht. ex Reveal & Doweld (1999)
Musales Reveal (1997)
Cannaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Costaceae Nakai (1941)
Heliconiaceae Nakai (1941)
Lowiaceae Ridl., nom. cons. (1924)
Marantaceae R. Br., nom. cons. (1814)
Musaceae Durande, nom. cons. (1782)
Strelitziaceae Hutch., nom. cons. (1934)
Alpiniaceae R. Br. ex F. Rudolphi (1830)
Amomaceae J. St.-Hil. (1805)
Curcumaceae Dumort. (1829)
Zingiberaceae Adans., nom. cons. (1763)
Alpiniaceae R. Br. ex F. Rudolphi (1830)
Amomaceae J. St.-Hil. (1805)
Curcumaceae Dumort. (1829)
The following linear sequence of names is inferred from figure 2 in the Chase et al. paper. Not all families listed above are depicted in this figure. The questionable placement of certain families noted above (e.g., Petrosaviaceae Nartheciaceae and Dasypogonaceae) are placed as recently suggested by Chase.
1. Acoranae
1. Acorales
1. Acoraceae
2. Alismatanae
1. Alismatales
1. Araceae
2. Tofieldiaceae
3. Aponogetonaceae
4. Zosteraceae
5. Najadaceae
6. Butomaceae
3. Lilianae
1. Dioscoreales
1. Petrosaviaceae
2. Nartheciaceae
3. Burmanniaceae
4. Dioscoreaceae
2. Pandanales
1. Triuridaceae
2. Stemonaceae
3. Velloziaceae
4. Pandanaceae
5. Cyclanthaceae
3. Liliales
1. Melanthiaceae
2. Alstroemeriaceae
3. Colchicaceae
4. Ripogonaceae
5. Smilacaceae
6. Philesiaceae
7. Liliaceae
4. Asparagales
1. Asteliaceae
2. Blandfordiaceae
3. Hypoxidaceae
4. Orchidaceae
5. Boryaceae
6. Ixioliriaceae
7. Tecophilaeaceae
8. Iridaceae
9. "Xeronemataceae"
10. Xanthorrhoeaceae
11. Asphodelaceae
12. Hemerocallidaceae
13. Amaryllidaceae
14. Alliaceae
15. Themidaceae
16. Hyacinthaceae
17. Anemarrhenaceae
18. Agavaceae
19. Anthericaceae
20. Laxmanniaceae
21. Asparagaceae
22. Ruscaceae
5. Arecales
1. Arecaceae
2. Dasypogonaceae
6. Poales
1. Rapateaceae
2. Bromeliaceae
3. Mayacaceae
4. Thurniaceae
5. Juncaceae
6. Cyperaceae
7. Typhaceae
8. Xyridaceae
9. Flagellariaceae
10. Restionaceae
11. Poaceae
12. Ecdeiocoleaceae
13. Anarthriaceae
7. Commelinales
1. Hanguanaceae
2. Philydraceae
3. Haemodoraceae
4. Commelinaceae
5. Pontederiaceae
8. Zingiberales
1. Musaceae
2. Heliconiaceae
3. Lowiaceae
4. Strelitziaceae
5. Cannaceae
6. Zingiberaceae
7. Marantaceae
8. Costaceae
