A system of plant taxonomy, the Thorne system of plant classification was devised by the American botanist Robert F. Thorne (1920–2015) in 1968, and he continued to issue revisions over many years (1968–2007).
Some versions of the system are available online. The Bioinformatics Working Group Center for the Study of Digital Libraries at Texas A&M University lists the March 1999 version (and other classification systems). James Reveal's course lecture notes (1999) also gives an account of the Thorne system at that time, with an extensive listing of synonyms, both nomenclatural and taxonomic, for each name in the system together with several other classification systems.
For a discussion of the various suffixes used for superorders (-florae vs. -anae), see Brummitt 1992, and Thorne 1992. In this latter paper, Thorne sets out his reasons for abandoning -florae for -anae, following contemporary practice.
1968 System
Monocotyledons
Superorders
- Superorder Alimatiflorae
- Superorder Triuridiflorae
- Superorder Liliiflorae
- Order Liliales
- Superorder Ariflorae
- Superorder Commeliniflorae
1992 System
The 1992 system lists 69 orders and 440 families
Summary
- Class Magnoliopsida [= angiosperms ]
- Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]
- Superorder Magnolianae
- Superorder Nymphaeanae
- Superorder Rafflesianae
- Superorder Caryophyllanae
- Superorder Theanae
- Superorder Celastranae
- Superorder Malvanae
- Superorder Violanae
- Superorder Santalanae
- Superorder Geranianae
- Superorder Rutanae
- Superorder Proteanae
- Superorder Rosanae
- Superorder Cornanae
- Superorder Asteranae
- Superorder Solananae
- Superorder Loasanae
- Superorder Myrtanae
- Superorder Gentiananae
- Subclass Liliidae [= monocotyledons ]
- Superorder Lilianae
- Superorder Hydatellanae
- Superorder Triuridanae
- Superorder Alismatanae
- Superorder Aranae
- Superorder Cyclanthanae
- Superorder Pandananae
- Superorder Arecanae
- Superorder Commelinanae
- Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]
Magnoliidae
- Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]
- Superorder Magnolianae
- Order Magnoliales
- Family Winteraceae
- Family Illiciaceae
- Family Schisandraceae
- Family Magnoliaceae
- Family Degeneriaceae
- Family Himantandraceae
- Family Eupomatiaceae
- Family Annonaceae
- Family Aristolochiaceae
- Family Myristicaceae
- Family Canellaceae
- Family Austrobaileyaceae
- Family Amborellaceae
- Family Trimeniaceae
- Family Chloranthaceae
- Family Monimiaceae
- Family Gomortegaceae
- Family Calycanthaceae
- Family Lauraceae
- Family Hernandiaceae
- Family Lactoridaceae
- Family Saururaceae
- Family Piperaceae
- Order Ceratophyllales
- Family Ceratophyllaceae
- Order Nelumbonales
- Family Nelumbonaceae
- Order Paeoniales
- Family Paeoniaceae
- Family Glaucidiaceae
- Order Berberidales
- Family Menispermaceae
- Family Lardizabalaceae
- Family Sargentodoxaceae
- Family Berberidaceae
- Family Hydrastidaceae
- Family Ranunculaceae
- Family Circaeasteraceae
- Family Papaveraceae
- Order Magnoliales
- Superorder Nymphaeanae
- Order Nymphaeales
- Family Cabombaceae
- Family Nymphaeaceae
- Order Nymphaeales
- Superorder Rafflesianae
- Order Rafflesiales
- Family Hydnoraceae
- Family Rafflesiaceae
- Order Rafflesiales
- Superorder Caryophyllanae
- Order Caryophyllales
- Family Caryophyllaceae
- Family Portulacaceae
- Family Hectorellaceae
- Family Basellaceae
- Family Didiereaceae
- Family Cactaceae
- Family Phytolaccaceae
- Family Petiveriaceae
- Family Agdestidaceae
- Family Barbeuiaceae
- Family Achatocarpaceae
- Family Stegnospermataceae
- Family Nyctaginaceae
- Family Aizoaceae
- Family Halophytaceae
- Family Molluginaceae
- Family Chenopodiaceae
- Family Amaranthaceae
- Order Caryophyllales
- Superorder Theanae
- Order Theales
- Family Dilleniaceae
- Family Actinidiaceae
- Family Paracryphiaceae
- Family Stachyuraceae
- Family Theaceae
- Family Asteropeiaceae
- Family Tetrameristaceae
- Family Pellicieraceae
- Family Chrysobalanaceae
- Family Symplocaceae
- Family Caryocaraceae
- Family Marcgraviaceae
- Family Oncothecaceae
- Family Aquifoliaceae
- Family Phellinaceae
- Family Sphenostemonaceae
- Family Sarraceniaceae
- Family Pentaphylacaceae
- Family Clethraceae
- Family Cyrillaceae
- Family Ochnaceae
- Family Quiinaceae
- Family Scytopetalaceae
- Family Medusagynaceae
- Family Strasburgeriaceae
- Family Ancistrocladaceae
- Family Dioncophyllaceae
- Family Nepenthaceae
- Family Bonnetiaceae
- Family Clusiaceae
- Family Elatinaceae
- Family Lecythidaceae
- Order Ericales
- Family Ericaceae
- Family Epacridaceae
- Family Empetraceae
- Order Fouquieriales
- Family Fouquieriaceae
- Order Styracales
- Family Ebenaceae
- Family Lissocarpaceae
- Family Sapotaceae
- Family Styracaceae
- Order Primulales
- Family Theophrastaceae
- Family Myrsinaceae
- Family Primulaceae
- Family Plumbaginaceae
- Order Polygonales
- Family Polygonaceae
- Order Theales
- Superorder Celastranae
- Order Celastrales
- Family Celastraceae
- Family Goupiaceae
- Family Lophopyxidaceae
- Family Stackhousiaceae
- Family Corynocarpaceae
- Order Celastrales
- Superorder Malvanae
- Order Malvales
- Family Sterculiaceae
- Family Huaceae
- Family Elaeocarpaceae
- Family Plagiopteraceae
- Family Tiliaceae
- Family Monotaceae
- Family Dipterocarpaceae
- Family Sarcolaenaceae
- Family Sphaerosepalaceae
- Family Bombacaceae
- Family Malvaceae
- Order Urticales
- Family Ulmaceae
- Family Moraceae
- Family Cecropiaceae
- Family Barbeyaceae
- Family Urticaceae
- Family Cannabaceae
- Order Rhamnales
- Family Rhamnaceae
- Family Elaeagnaceae
- Order Euphorbiales
- Family Euphorbiaceae
- Family Aextoxicaceae
- Family Simmondsiaceae
- Family Dichapetalaceae
- Family Gonystylaceae
- Family Thymelaeaceae
- Order Malvales
- Superorder Violanae
- Order Violales
- Family Bixaceae
- Family Cochlospermaceae
- Family Cistaceae
- Family Violaceae
- Family Flacourtiaceae
- Family Physenaceae
- Family Lacistemataceae
- Family Salicaceae
- Family Dipentodontaceae
- Family Peridiscaceae
- Family Scyphostegiaceae
- Family Passifloraceae
- Family Turneriaceae
- Family Malesherbiaceae
- Family Achariaceae
- Family Caricaceae
- Family Tamaricaceae
- Family Frankeniaceae
- Family Cucurbitaceae
- Family Begoniaceae
- Family Datiscaceae
- Order Brassicales
- Family Resedaceae
- Family Capparaceae
- Family Brassicaceae
- Family Salvadoraceae
- Family Gyrostemonaceae
- Order Batales
- Family Bataceae
- Order Violales
- Superorder Santalanae
- Order Santalales
- Family Olacaceae
- Family Opiliaceae
- Family Medusandraceae
- Family Santalaceae
- Family Misodendraceae
- Family Loranthaceae
- Family Eremolepidaceae
- Family Viscaceae
- Order Balanophorales
- Family Balanophoraceae
- Family Cynomoriaceae
- Order Santalales
- Superorder Geranianae
- Order Linales
- Family Humiriaceae
- Family Ctenolophonaceae
- Family Hugoniaceae
- Family Ixonanthaceae
- Family Linaceae
- Family Erythroxylaceae
- Family Zygophyllaceae
- Family Balanitaceae
- Order Rhizophorales
- Family Rhizophoraceae
- Order Geraniales
- Family Oxalidaceae
- Family Geraniaceae
- Family Balsaminaceae
- Family Tropaeolaceae
- Family Limnanthaceae
- Order Polygalales
- Family Malpighiaceae
- Family Trigoniaceae
- Family Vochysiaceae
- Family Polygalaceae
- Family Krameriaceae
- Order Linales
- Superorder Rutanae
- Order Rutales
- Family Rutaceae
- Family Rhabdodendraceae
- Family Cneoraceae
- Family Simaroubaceae
- Family Picramniaceae
- Family Ptaeroxylaceae
- Family Meliaceae
- Family Burseraceae
- Family Anacardiaceae
- Family Leitneriaceae
- Family Tepuianthaceae
- Family Coriariaceae
- Family Sapindaceae
- Family Sabiaceae
- Family Melianthaceae
- Family Akaniaceae
- Family Bretschneideraceae
- Family Moringaceae
- Family Surianaceae
- Family Connaraceae
- Family Fabaceae
- Order Rutales
- Superorder Proteanae
- Order Proteales
- Family Proteaceae
- Order Proteales
- Superorder Rosanae
- Order Hamamelidales
- Family Trochodendraceae
- Family Eupteleaceae
- Family Cercidiphyllaceae
- Family Platanaceae
- Family Hamamelidaceae
- Order Casuarinales
- Family Casuarinaceae
- Order Balanopales
- Family Buxaceae
- Family Didymelaceae
- Family Daphniphyllaceae
- Family Balanopaceae
- Order Bruniales
- Family Roridulaceae
- Family Bruniaceae
- Family Geissolomataceae
- Family Grubbiaceae
- Family Myrothamnaceae
- Family Hydrostachyaceae
- Order Juglandales
- Family Rhoipteleaceae
- Family Juglandaceae
- Family Myricaceae
- Order Betulales
- Family Ticodendraceae
- Family Betulaceae
- Family Nothofagaceae
- Family Fagaceae
- Order Rosales
- Family Rosaceae
- Family Neuradaceae
- Family Crossosomataceae
- Family Anisophylleaceae
- Order Saxifragales
- Family Tetracarpaeaceae
- Family Crassulaceae
- Family Cephalotaceae
- Family Penthoraceae
- Family Saxifragaceae
- Family Francoaceae
- Family Grossulariaceae
- Family Vahliaceae
- Family Eremosynaceae
- Family Lepuropetalaceae
- Family Parnassiaceae
- Family Stylidiaceae
- Family Droseraceae
- Family Greyiaceae
- Family Diapensiaceae
- Order Podostemales
- Family Podostemaceae
- Order Cunoniales
- Family Cunoniaceae
- Family Davidsoniaceae
- Family Staphyleaceae
- Order Hamamelidales
- Superorder Cornanae
- Order Hydrangeales
- Family Hydrangeaceae
- Family Escalloniaceae
- Family Carpodetaceae
- Family Griseliniaceae
- Family Alseuosmiaceae
- Family Montiniaceae
- Family Brexiaceae
- Family Columelliaceae
- Family Desfontainiaceae
- Order Cornales
- Family Vitaceae
- Family Gunneraceae
- Family Haloragaceae
- Family Cornaceae
- Family Curtisiaceae
- Family Alangiaceae
- Family Garryaceae
- Family Aucubaceae
- Family Aralidiaceae
- Family Eucommiaceae
- Family Icacinaceae
- Family Metteniusaceae
- Family Cardiopteridaceae
- Family Peripterygiaceae
- Order Pittosporales
- Family Pittosporaceae
- Family Byblidaceae
- Family Tremandraceae
- Order Araliales
- Family Helwingiaceae
- Family Torricelliaceae
- Family Araliaceae
- Family Hydrocotylaceae
- Family Apiaceae
- Order Dipsacales
- Family Caprifoliaceae
- Family Adoxaceae
- Family Valerianaceae
- Family Triplostegiaceae
- Family Dipsacaceae
- Family Morinaceae
- Order Hydrangeales
- Superorder Asteranae
- Order Asterales
- Family Calyceraceae
- Family Asteraceae
- Order Campanulales
- Family Menyanthaceae
- Family Pentaphragmataceae
- Family Sphenocleaceae
- Family Campanulaceae
- Family Goodeniaceae
- Order Asterales
- Superorder Solananae
- Order Solanales
- Family Solanaceae
- Family Duckeodendraceae
- Family Goetzeaceae
- Family Nolanaceae
- Family Convolvulaceae
- Family Hydrophyllaceae
- Family Boraginaceae
- Family Hoplestigmataceae
- Family Lennoaceae
- Family Tetrachondraceae
- Family Polemoniaceae
- Order Solanales
- Superorder Loasanae
- Order Loasales
- Family Loasaceae
- Order Loasales
- Superorder Myrtanae
- Order Myrtales
- Family Lythraceae
- Family Alzateaceae
- Family Rhynchocalycaceae
- Family Penaeaceae
- Family Oliniaceae
- Family Trapaceae
- Family Crypteroniaceae
- Family Melastomataceae
- Family Combretaceae
- Family Onagraceae
- Family Myrtaceae
- Order Myrtales
- Superorder Gentiananae
- Order Gentianales
- Family Loganiaceae
- Family Rubiaceae
- Family Dialypetalanthaceae
- Family Apocynaceae
- Family Gentianaceae
- Family Saccifoliaceae
- Order Scrophulariales
- Family Oleaceae
- Family Buddlejaceae
- Family Stilbaceae
- Family Bignoniaceae
- Family Pedaliaceae
- Family Martyniaceae
- Family Myoporaceae
- Family Scrophulariaceae
- Family Gesneriaceae
- Family Globulariaceae
- Family Plantaginaceae
- Family Lentibulariaceae
- Family Acanthaceae
- Family Callitrichaceae
- Family Hippuridaceae
- Family Verbenaceae
- Family Phrymaceae
- Family Symphoremataceae
- Family Nesogenaceae
- Family Avicenniaceae
- Family Lamiaceae
- Order Gentianales
- Superorder Magnolianae
- Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]
Liliidae
- Subclass Liliidae [= monocotyledons ]
- Superorder Lilianae
- Order Liliales
- Family Melanthiaceae
- Family Campynemataceae
- Family Alstroemeriaceae
- Family Colchicaceae
- Family Liliaceae
- Family Trilliaceae
- Family Iridaceae
- Order Burmanniales
- Family Burmanniaceae
- Family Corsiaceae
- Order Asparagales
- Family Asparagaceae
- Family Luzuriagaceae
- Family Asphodelaceae
- Family Aphyllanthaceae
- Family Phormiaceae
- Family Tecophilaeaceae
- Family Lanariaceae
- Family Hemerocallidaceae
- Family Asteliaceae
- Family Hanguanaceae
- Family Agavaceae
- Family Hostaceae
- Family Blandfordiaceae
- Family Dasypogonaceae
- Family Xanthorrhoeaceae
- Family Ixioliriaceae
- Family Hyacinthaceae
- Family Alliaceae
- Family Amaryllidaceae
- Family Hypoxidaceae
- Family Velloziaceae
- Family Cyanastraceae
- Family Eriospermaceae
- Order Dioscoreales
- Family Philesiaceae
- Family Ripogonaceae
- Family Petermanniaceae
- Family Smilacaceae
- Family Dioscoreaceae
- Family Trichopodaceae
- Family Stemonaceae
- Family Taccaceae
- Order Orchidales
- Family Orchidaceae
- Order Liliales
- Superorder Hydatellanae
- Order Hydatellales
- Family Hydatellaceae
- Order Hydatellales
- Superorder Triuridanae
- Order Triuridales
- Family Triuridaceae
- Order Triuridales
- Superorder Alismatanae
- Order Alismatales
- Family Butomaceae
- Family Alismataceae
- Family Hydrocharitaceae
- Order Potamogetonales
- Family Aponogetonaceae
- Family Scheuchzeriaceae
- Family Juncaginaceae
- Family Potamogetonaceae
- Family Posidoniaceae
- Family Cymodoceaceae
- Family Zannichelliaceae
- Family Zosteraceae
- Order Alismatales
- Superorder Aranae
- Order Acorales
- Family Acoraceae
- Order Arales
- Family Araceae
- Family Lemnaceae
- Order Acorales
- Superorder Cyclanthanae
- Order Cyclanthales
- Family Cyclanthaceae
- Order Cyclanthales
- Superorder Pandananae
- Order Pandanales
- Family Pandanaceae
- Order Pandanales
- Superorder Arecanae
- Order Arecales
- Family Arecaceae
- Order Arecales
- Superorder Commelinanae
- Order Bromeliales
- Family Bromeliaceae
- Order Philydrales
- Family Philydraceae
- Family Pontederiaceae
- Family Haemodoraceae
- Order Typhales
- Family Typhaceae
- Order Zingiberales
- Family Musaceae
- Family Strelitziaceae
- Family Lowiaceae
- Family Heliconiaceae
- Family Zingiberaceae
- Family Costaceae
- Family Cannaceae
- Family Marantaceae
- Order Commelinales
- Family Rapateaceae
- Family Xyridaceae
- Family Commelinaceae
- Family Mayacaceae
- Family Eriocaulaceae
- Order Juncales
- Family Thurniaceae
- Family Juncaceae
- Family Cyperaceae
- Order Poales
- Family Flagellariaceae
- Family Joinvilleaceae
- Family Restionaceae
- Family Ecdeiocoleaceae
- Family Centrolepidaceae
- Family Poaceae
- Order Bromeliales
- Superorder Lilianae
- Subclass Liliidae [= monocotyledons ]
2007 System
The 2007 system lists 12 subclasses, 35 superorders, 87 orders, 40 suborders, and 472 families. It uses the suffixes given in the following example.
Class Magnoliopsida ("Angiospermae") - 12 subclasses
- Subclass Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Magnolianae
- Order: Magnoliales
- SubOrder: Magnoliineae
- Family: Magnoliaceae
- SubFamily: Magnolioideae
- Tribe: Magnolieae
- SubFamily: Magnolioideae
- Family: Magnoliaceae
- SubOrder: Magnoliineae
- Order: Magnoliales
- Superorder: Magnolianae
- Subclasses (12)
- 1. Chloranthidae
- 2. Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons]
- 3. Alismatidae
- 4. Liliidae - 3 superorders
- Pandananae
- Dioscoreanae
- Lilianae - 3 orders
- Liliales - 12 families
- Corsiaceae Becc., 1878
- Campynemataceae Dumort., 1829
- Melanthiaceae Batsch ex Borkh., 1797
- Trilliaceae Chevall., 1827
- Petermanniaceae Hutch., 1934
- Luzuriagaceae Lotsy, 1911 (incl. Drymophila R. Br.)
- Alstroemeriaceae Dumort., 1829
- Colchicaceae DC., 1804
- Rhipogonaceae Conran & Clifford, 1985
- Philesiaceae Dumort., 1829
- Smilacaceae Vent., 1799
- Liliaceae Juss., 1789
- Orchidales
- Iridales
- Liliales - 12 families
- 5. Commelinidae
- 6. Ranunculidae
- 7. Hamamelididae
- 8. Caryophyllidae
- 9. Rosidae
- 10. Malvidae
- 11. Asteridae
- 12. Lamiidae
Note: Monocotyledons are represented here by 3 separate subclasses 3–5
References
Bibliography
