What is Laurales?
{{Taxobox |name = Laurales |image = Laurus nobilis MHNT Fleurs.jpg |image_caption = ''[[Laurus nobilis]]'' flowers and leaves |regnum = [[Plant]]ae |phylum = [[Angiosperm]]s |classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] |ordo = Laurales |ordo_authority = [[Karl Julius Perleb|Perleb]] |subdivision_ranks = Families |subdivision = [[Atherospermataceae]]<br /> [[Calycanthaceae]]<br /> [[Gomortegaceae]]<br /> [[Hernandiaceae]]<br /> [[Lauraceae]]<br /> [[Monimiaceae]]<br /> [[Siparunaceae]] }} The '''Laurales''' are an [[order (biology)|order]] of [[flowering plant]]s. They are a basal group of [[dicot]]s. They are related to, and sometimes included in, the [[Magnoliales]]. The order includes 85-90 [[genera]] from seven [[family (biology)|families]] of [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s. Most of the species are [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]], though a few genera reach the [[temperate zone]]. The best known species in this order are those of the [[Lauraceae]] (for example [[bay laurel]] or ''Laurus'', [[cinnamon]] or ''Cinnamomum'', [[avocado]] or ''Persea'', and ''[[Sassafras]]''), and the spice bush or ''[[Calycanthus]]'' of the Calycanthaceae. The earliest lauraceous [[fossil]]s are from the [[Cretaceous]].<ref>[http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/ Stevens P.F. 2001 to date. ''Angiosperm phylogeny website'': Laurales]</ref><ref>Behrensmeyer, Anna K. ''et al'' (eds) 1992. ''Terrestrial ecosystems through time: the evolutionary paleoecology of terrestrial plants and animals''. University of Chicago Press. {{ISBN|0-226-04154-9}} (cloth) {{ISBN|0-226-04155-7}} (paper)</ref> It is possible that the ancient origin of this order is one of the reasons for its highly diverged [[morphology]]. Indeed, at present no one [[trait]] is known which would unify all the members of Laurales. This used to cause much argument among botanists about the correct limits of the order. The presently classification is based on recent [[molecular biology|molecular]] and [[genetic analysis]]. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Trees]] [[Category:Laurales