# Asteridae

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Subclass of plants

Not to be confused with [Asteriidae](/source/Asteriidae).

***Asteridae*** is an obsolete [botanical name](/source/Botanical_name) at the rank of [subclass](/source/Subclass_(biology)). Composition of the subclass has also varied; however, by definition it always includes the family [Asteraceae](/source/Asteraceae) (Compositae). In the modern [APG IV system](/source/APG_IV_system) of classification, [asterid](/source/Asterid) and [euasterid](/source/Euasterid) are names for clades with a composition similar to that of Asteridae.

One of the better-known and more influential systems that formally recognized subclass Asteridae was the [Cronquist system](/source/Cronquist_system) devised by botanist [Arthur Cronquist](/source/Arthur_Cronquist), which included the orders:

- [Gentianales](/source/Gentianales)

- [Solanales](/source/Solanales)

- [Lamiales](/source/Lamiales)

- [Callitrichales](/source/Callitrichales)

- [Plantaginales](/source/Plantaginales)

- [Scrophulariales](/source/Scrophulariales)

- [Campanulales](/source/Campanulales)

- [Rubiales](/source/Rubiales_(plant))

- [Dipsacales](/source/Dipsacales)

- [Calycerales](/source/Calycerales)

- [Asterales](/source/Asterales)

Most of the above orders as defined by Cronquist have definitely been dramatically redefined on the basis of recent molecular systematic studies.

To a large extent Cronquist's subclass Asteridae corresponds with the older concepts of [Sympetalae](/source/Sympetalae) and [Tubiflorae](/source/Tubiflorae), groups that were defined by having their petals united into a tube. However, these older classifications contained some sympetalous families, such as [Cucurbitaceae](/source/Cucurbitaceae), that are now known not to be closely related. Cronquist's concept also corresponds closely with the [APG II](/source/APG_II) group of [euasterids](/source/Euasterids) but the APG does not formally recognize a group called "Asteridae" (or any other group above the rank of order).

Recent phylogenetic studies have suggested that several families, including three major orders not included in Asteridae by Cronquist, [Ericales](/source/Ericales), [Cornales](/source/Cornales), and [Apiales](/source/Apiales), also belong to the asterid group. The circumscription of subclass Asteridae, as well as the circumscriptions of the orders contained within it, is currently in a state of flux; many systematic botanists refer to these as clades ([asterids](/source/Asterids), [euasterids](/source/Euasterids), etc.), rather than use formal names such as subclass Asteridae.

## External links

- [Asteridae](http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/newgate/cron1ast.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516215931/http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/newgate/cron1ast.htm) 2008-05-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Cronquist system)

- [Asterids](http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Asterids&contgroup=Core_Eudicots)

- [Phylogeny and the evolution of flower symmetry in the Asteridae](http://hengduan.huh.harvard.edu/~rree/reprints/Donoghue_et_al-1998-TPS.pdf)

- [The Phylogeny of the Asteridae sensu lato Based on Chloroplast ndhF Gene Sequences](http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/expand?pub=infobike://ap/fy/2000/00000016/00000001/art00769&unc=) (link to abstract)

- [Phylogeny of the Asteridae s. str. based on rbcL sequences, with particular reference to the Dipsacales](http://www.springerlink.com/(lmk1zcqhf3qoezridttpvqvk)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,5,7;journal,87,1500;linkingpublicationresults,1:104878,1)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] (link to abstract)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Asteridae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteridae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteridae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.