ABSTRACT
A substantial amount of combined molecular resolves a putatively monophyletic assemblage of 15 orders, known as the "rosid" or "superrosid" clade. These orders are further divided into four subclades: the "fabid rosids", "malvid rosids", Vitales, and Saxifragales. The order Saxifragales has been excluded from or included into the rosids proper, with some referring to the group containing Saxifragales as the "superrosids". This chapter discusses the twelve of the rosid orders contain obligate indicators in North America. The orders are Celastrales, Cucurbitales, Fabales, Fagales, Malpighiales, Rosales, Saxifragales, Vitales Malvid rosids, Brassicales, Malvales, Myrtales and Sapindales. The chapter describes the etymology, synonyms, distribution, diversity, indicators, habitat, key morphology, life history, imperilment, ecology and economic importance of these families. All of these rosid orders are predominantly terrestrial. However, the wide dispersion of many hydrophytic taxa across the group indicates that the obligate wetland (OBL) habit has evolved repeatedly within the rosids.
