# Thorne system

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

### 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
       Superorder Nymphaeanae
          Order Nymphaeales
             Family Cabombaceae
             Family Nymphaeaceae
       Superorder Rafflesianae
          Order Rafflesiales
             Family Hydnoraceae
             Family Rafflesiaceae
       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
       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
       Superorder Celastranae
          Order Celastrales
             Family Celastraceae
             Family Goupiaceae
             Family Lophopyxidaceae
             Family Stackhousiaceae
             Family Corynocarpaceae
       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
       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
       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
       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
       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
       Superorder Proteanae
          Order Proteales
             Family Proteaceae
       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
       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
       Superorder Asteranae
          Order Asterales
             Family Calyceraceae
             Family Asteraceae
          Order Campanulales
             Family Menyanthaceae
             Family Pentaphragmataceae
             Family Sphenocleaceae
             Family Campanulaceae
             Family Goodeniaceae
       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
       Superorder Loasanae
          Order Loasales
             Family Loasaceae
       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
       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

### 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
       Superorder Hydatellanae
          Order Hydatellales
             Family Hydatellaceae
       Superorder Triuridanae
          Order Triuridales
             Family Triuridaceae
       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
       Superorder Aranae
          Order Acorales
             Family Acoraceae
          Order Arales
             Family Araceae
             Family Lemnaceae
       Superorder Cyclanthanae
          Order Cyclanthales
             Family Cyclanthaceae
       Superorder Pandananae
          Order Pandanales
             Family Pandanaceae
       Superorder Arecanae
          Order Arecales
             Family Arecaceae
       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

## 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

### 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
* 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