Order: Amborellales

Contains a single species, Amborella trichopoda, endemic to the island of New Caledonia and not encountered in southern Africa.

Order: Nymphaeales

Contains two families: the Cabombaceae and the Nymphaeaceae (water lily family). There are eight genera and 64 species worldwide, with two genera and three species native to southern Africa.

Order: Austrobaileyales

Contains three families: Austrobaileyaceae, Illiciaceae and Trimeniaceae, none of which has indigenous representatives in southern Africa. However, Illicium verum (Star anise) in the Illiciaceae, is cultivated in the region.

Order: Chloranthales

Contains a single family, the Chloranthaceae, which is not encountered in southern Africa.

magnoliids

Order: Magnoliales

Five families of which four are encountered in southern Africa. About 154 genera and 2929 species of which nine genera and 19 species (all in Annonaceae) are native to southern Africa. An additional seven genera and 28 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Laurales

Seven families of which four are encountered in southern Africa. Six genera and 14 species are native to southern Africa, one genus and two species are naturalised, and an additional six genera and 15 species are cultivated in the region. The Lauraceae is the most diverse family in the region and includes Stinkwood as well as important cultivated species such as Avocado, Cinnamon and Bay laurel (yielding bay leaves).

Order: Canellales

Nine genera and about 88 species in two families, Canellaceae and Winteraceae. Only one species is native to southern Africa and there is also one species cultivated in the region.

Order: Piperales

Four families, all of which are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 17 genera and 2090 species worldwide, four genera and 14 species are native to southern Africa, one species is naturalised, and an additional 19 species are cultivated in the region.

monocots

Order: Acorales

Contains a single family, the Acoraceae, containing a single genus, Acorus. This genus was previously placed in the Araceae. Acorus calamus (Sweet-flag) is cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Alismatales

With the exception of the Araceae (arum lily family), all families of the Alismatales that occur in southern Africa, are either aquatic or marsh-inhabiting plants. Members of the Araceae are often found in marshy situations and some member are aquatic (those previously in the family Lemnaceae) but many species can be found far from water. Ten of the 14 families are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 166 genera and 4490 species worldwide, 25 genera and 76 species are native to southern Africa, four genera and four species are naturalised, and an additional 21 general and 43 species are cultivated in the region.    

Order: Petrosaviales

One family, Petrosaviaceae, not encountered in southern Africa.

Order: Dioscoreales

Three of the five families are encountered in southern Africa, Dioscoreaceae (yam family), being by far the largest. Worldwide there are about 21 genera and 1037 species, of which two genera and 23 species (mainly Dioscorea) are native to southern Africa. In addition, two species in the genus Tacca are cultivated in the region.  

Order: Pandanales

Three of the five families are encountered in southern Africa. There are 36 genera and 1345 species worldwide of which three genera (Talbotia, Xerophyta and Pandanus), and 15 species are native to southern Africa. An additional genus and two species are cultivated in the region.

+ Order: Liliales

Four of the eleven families are encountered in southern Africa but only two of them are indigenous. There are about 67 genera and 1558 species, of which 10 genera and 88 species are native to southern Africa. An additional six genera and 17 species are cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Asparagales 

Twenty-four families of which 17 are encountered in southern Africa. There are 1122 genera and 26071 species, of which 156 genera and 2849 species are native to southern Africa. An additional three genera and six species are naturalised, and an additional 155 genera and 576 species are recorded as being cultivated in southern Africa.

commelinids

Unplaced

Includes only the Dasypogonaceae, which is not encountered in southern Africa.

Order: Arecales (palms)

The Arecaceae is the only family in the order. There are 189 genera and 2361 species (cosmopolitan, mainly warmer regions), with five genera and six species native to southern Africa . An additional 103 genera and 276 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Poales

Seventeen families of which 10 are encountered in southern Africa. There are 997 genera and 18325 species recorded worldwide, of which 230 genera and 1621 species are native to southern Africa. An additional 33 genera and 129 species are naturalised, and an additional 43 genera and 344 species are recorded as being cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Commelinales

Five families of which three are encountered in southern Africa. There are 68 genera and 812 species recorded worldwide, of which 12 genera and 51 species are native to southern Africa. An additional two genera and two species are naturalised, and an additional six genera and 16 species are recorded as being cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Zingiberales

Eight families of which seven are encountered in southern Africa. There are 92 genera and 2111 species recorded worldwide, of which three genera and eight species are native to southern Africa. An additional two genera and four species are naturalised, and an additional 15 genera and 35 species are recorded as being cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Ceratophyllales

Contains a single family, the Ceratophyllaceae, containing a single genus Ceratophyllum. There are about six species, of which three are native to southern Africa.

eudicotyledons

Order: Ranunculales

Seven families, 199 genera and 4445 species, with 18 genera and 47 species native to southern Africa , and four genera and six species naturalised. An additional 24 genera and 57 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Sabiales

One family, Sabiaceae, not encountered in southern Africa.

Order: Proteales

There are three families in the Proteales and all are encountered in southern Africa, but only the Proteaceae is indigenous. A total of 14 genera and 351 species are native to southern Africa, mainly in fynbos. In addition, two genera and five species have become naturalised, and an additional 15 genera and 55 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Trochodendrales

Two species: Trochodendron aralioides and Tetracentron sinense, native to east Asia and not cultivated in southern Africa.

Order: Buxales

Three families and about 73 species, mainly in the Buxaceae, which is the only family represented in southern Africa. Two species of Buxus are native to southern Africa and an additional three genera and five species are cultivated in the region.

core eudicots

Order: Gunnerales

Contains two genera: Gunnera (in the family Gunneraceae) and Myrothamnus (in the family Myrothamnaceae). Gunnera perpensa and Myrothamnus flabellifolius are native to southern Africa. In addition, Gunnera manicata, native to Brazil and Colombia, is cultivated in the region.

Order: Dilleniales

One family: Dilleniaceae, with 10 genera and about 300 species. Mainly tropical in distribution including tropical Africa but none of the species have distributions extending into southern Africa as defined here (south of Kuneni and Zambezi River). Tetracera boiviniana has a distribution extending into northern Mozambique, which is just outside the region. Two species are cultivated in southern Africa: Hibbertia scandens (from eastern Australia) and Dillenia indica (native distributon: India to Indonesia).

Order: Saxifragales 

Order: Vitales

Vitaceae

rosids

eurosid I

Order: Zygophyllales

Two families, Zygophyllaceae, which has a worldwide distribution, and Krameriaceae, which is native to the Americas. In the Zygophyllaceae, there are 22 genera and 285 species worldwide, of which seven genera and 52 species are native to southern Africa.

Order: Celastrales

Includes: Celastraceae, Lepidobotryaceae, Parnassiaceae, Pottingeriaceae. Only Celastraceae is encountered in southern Africa. There are about 97 genera and 1404 species in the worldwide of which 24 genera and 88 species are native to southern Africa. An additional one genus and eight species are cultivated in the region.

Four families encountered in southern Africa. Oxalidaceae is the largest family with two genera and 202 species native to the region. In total, there are five genera and 205 species that are native to southern Africa, an additional species that is naturalised, and six genera and 11 species cultivated.

About 39 families, 716 genera and 15935 species of which 21 families, 132 genera and 755 species are encountered in southern Africa. Of these, 93 genera and 592 species are native, an additional eight genera and 42 species are naturalised, and an additional 31 genera and 121 species are cultivated in the region. 

Seven families, 129 genera and 2295 species, of which four families, 28 genera and 125 species are encountered in southern Africa. Of these two families, 19 genera and 85 species are native to the region, one genus and two species are naturalised and eight genera and 38 species are cultivated.

Eight families, 55 genera and 1877 species, of which six families, 17 genera and 106 species are encountered in southern Africa. Of these only one family (Myricaceae) with one genus and 10 species is native to southern Africa. An additional two genera and three species are naturalised, and 14 genera and 93 species are cultivated in the region. The order includes familiar trees such as birches, casuarinas, chestnuts, oaks, walnuts, pecans and southern beeches (Nothofagus).

About 754 genera and 20055 species worldwide, the vast majority of which fall in the bean family (Fabaceae). There are 129 genera and 1799 species native to southern Africa, a further 24 genera and 110 species naturalised, and a further 93 genera and 421 species that are cultivated in the region.

Nine families, seven of which are encountered in southern Africa. There are 261 genera and 7725 species distributed worldwide, of which 36 genera and 376 species are native to southern Africa, 11 genera and 33 species are naturalised, and an additional 51 genera and 248 species that are cultivated in the region.

eurosid II

Five families of which three are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 17 genera and 836 species, eight genera and 298 species are native to southern Africa, seven species are naturalised, and an additional one genus and 18 species are cultivated in the region.

Eight of the 11 families are encountered in southern Africa. There are about 380 genera and 11027 species worldwide, with 28 genera and 160 species native to southern Africa, an additional 11 genera and 42 naturalised, and an additional 40 genera and 372 species cultivated in the region.

Order: Crossosomatales

Eight families of which two are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 12 genera and 66 species, two genera and two species are native to southern Africa.

Order: Picramniales

One family: Picramniaceae, which does not occur in southern Africa.

Seven of the nine families are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 460 genera and 5670 species, 55 genera and 473 species are native to southern Africa, nine genera and 10 species are naturalised, and an additional 50 genera and 96 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Huerteales

Not encountered in southern Africa.

Order: Brassicales

Eight of the 17 families in this order are encountered in southern Africa. There are 398 genera and 4450 species worldwide, with 22 genera and 167 species native to southern Africa, an additional 19 genera and 38 species naturalised, and an additional 18 genera and 58 species that are cultivated in the region.

Order: Malvales

Ten families of which eight are encountered in southern Africa. There are about 338 genera and 6005 species worldwide, of which 37 genera and 546 species are native to southern Africa, eight genera and 19 species are naturalised and a further 41 genera and 118 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Santalales

Eight families of which four are encountered in southern Africa. Includes many species that are root parasites. Twenty-three genera and 249 species are native to southern Africa and a further species in another genus is cultivated in the region.

Order: Berberidopsidales

Two families, Aextoxicaceae and Berberidopsidaceae, neither of which is encountered in southern Africa. 

Order: Caryophyllales

Thirty-four families of which 22 are encountered in southern Africa. A total of 216 genera and 2225 species are native to southern Africa (mainly mesems in the Aizoaceae), an additional 30 genera and 105 species are naturalised, and an additional 57 genera and 245 species are cultivated in the region. The order includes sugarbeet, spinach, cacti, carnations, sundews, and Bougainvillea.

asterids

Order: Cornales

Seven families, all of which are encountred in southern Africa. Four genera and six species are native to southern Africa, there are no naturalised species, and an additional eight genera and 27 species are cultivated in the region. Includes Curtisia dentata (Assegai) and Hydrangea.

Order: Ericales

Eighteen of the 25 families are encountered in southern Africa. Worldwide there are 346 genera and about 11515 species, of which 21 genera and 819 species (mainly Erica) are native to southern Africa, four species are naturalised, and an additional 37 genera and 108 species are cultivated in the region.

euasterid I

Unplaced

Icacinaceae. About 24 genera and 149 species, pantropical in distribution, with three genera and 10 species native to southern Africa. 

Boraginaceae (forget-me-not and borage family). About 148 genera and 2740 species, widespread in temperate and tropical regions of the world, with 15 genera and 90 species native to southern Africa, an additional five genera and 17 species that are naturalised, and an additional six genera and 17 species that are cultivated in the region.

Vahliaceae. One genus, Vahlia, with five species, native to Africa and Madagascar, with two species native to southern Africa.

Oncothecaceae and Metteniusaceae. Not encountered in southern Africa

Order: Garryales

One of the two families, Garryaceae, is native to western North America, Central America and eastern Asia, and has two species cultivated in southern Africa, each in one of the two genera in the family.

Order: Gentianales

Five families, all of which are encountered in southern Africa. Of the 1118 genera and 16637 species, 151 genera and 989 species are native to southern Africa, a further eight genera and 12 species are naturalised, and a further 43 genera and 117 species are cultivated in the region.

Order: Lamiales 

There are 22 families, 1059 genera and 23275 species in this order.  It is defined mainly on the basis of genetic and biochemical information. Flowers of most species have only one plane of symmetry (ie. monosymmetric) and plants are usually herbaceous. Evidence suggests the Lamiales evolved about 97 to 74 years ago. (Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, Version 8).

Order: Solanales

asterid II

Order: Escaloniales

One family, Escaloniaceae, of which there are no indigenous representatives in southern Africa but there are two genera and five species that are cultivated in the region.