subclass Caryophyllidae
n : a group of families of mostly flowers having basal or
free-central placentation and trinucleate pollen
(binucleate pollen is commoner in flowering plants);
contains 14 families including: Caryophyllaceae
(carnations and pinks); Aizoaceae; Amaranthaceae;
Batidaceae; Chenopodiaceae; Cactaceae (order Opuntiales);
Nyctaginaceae; Phytolaccaceae; corresponds approximately
to order Caryophyllales; sometimes classified as a
superorder [syn: Caryophyllidae]