The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group presents an updated classification of flowering plants, comprising 462 families and 40 orders. This classification is based on recent cladistic analyses and aims to provide a monophyletic framework for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of major plant groups. The classification includes informal higher groups such as monocots, commelinoids, eudicots, core eudicots, rosids, and asterids. The authors emphasize the importance of higher-level classifications in systematics and other biological fields, noting that while family-level classifications have been stable, recent molecular studies have revealed new insights into the phylogeny of flowering plants. The classification is designed to be a reference tool for discussing diversity and interrelationships, with a focus on orders and families. The paper discusses the challenges and considerations in establishing monophyletic clades and the principles guiding the selection of clades for naming. The classification is based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and includes well-supported interrelationships among basal branches. The authors also address the placement of families of uncertain position and provide a list of families that cannot be confidently assigned to any order. The classification is a significant update to previous systems and aims to facilitate communication and research in botany.The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group presents an updated classification of flowering plants, comprising 462 families and 40 orders. This classification is based on recent cladistic analyses and aims to provide a monophyletic framework for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of major plant groups. The classification includes informal higher groups such as monocots, commelinoids, eudicots, core eudicots, rosids, and asterids. The authors emphasize the importance of higher-level classifications in systematics and other biological fields, noting that while family-level classifications have been stable, recent molecular studies have revealed new insights into the phylogeny of flowering plants. The classification is designed to be a reference tool for discussing diversity and interrelationships, with a focus on orders and families. The paper discusses the challenges and considerations in establishing monophyletic clades and the principles guiding the selection of clades for naming. The classification is based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and includes well-supported interrelationships among basal branches. The authors also address the placement of families of uncertain position and provide a list of families that cannot be confidently assigned to any order. The classification is a significant update to previous systems and aims to facilitate communication and research in botany.