The Caryophyllales are one of the few higher taxa of the
flowering plants ofwhich the size and delimitation against
other taxa is undisputed. However, their derivation from
other taxa and the evolution of families within this order
in unsettled.
"Systematics and Evolution of the Caryophyllales" reviews
the important characters of this taxon emphasizing their
contribution and influence towards a new proposal for both
the putative origin of the order and the classification of
its families. New results in molecular genetics,
phytochemistry, ultrastructure, and morphology are provided
and discussed in relation to both the classical and
molecular systematics of the order. In addition, characters
like betalains and sieve-element plastids, which have played
a major role in shaping the size of the order, and others
like DNA-data or flower morphologythat can be useful to
discuss the position of the Caryophyllales within higher
plants are critically evaluated.