· 5 subclasses, 19 orders, 65 families, 50,000 species
· leaves usually with parallel veins
· perianth parts in 3’s
· 1 cotyledon
· fibrous roots
· scattered bundles
· usually herbaceous
· usually 3 carpels (sometimes reduces to 1)
 

Subclasses

1)  Alismatidae—aquatic or semi-aquatic herbs

2)  Arecidae—very diverse group, including the smallest flowering plant in the world (Wolffia) to the largest, the palms.
· Members of the family Araceae have a spadix and spathe.
· Family Lemnaceae (duckweed) is also in this subclass.

3)  Liliidae
· Largest subclass of monocots
· Generally alternate leaves
· Nectar glands are usually present to attract pollinators
· Sepals are petaloid (sometimes look like petals)

4)  Zingiberidae—small subclass with 2 orders; includes the genus Canna, an ornamental plant grown from a bulb, and prayer plants

5)  Commenilidae

· 2 families (Cyperaceae & Poaceae) make up most of the species (75-80%)
· herbs with reduced flowers
· loss of pollinators (self-fertilizing or wind-pollinated)
· scale-like outgrowth of tissue may be present where the blade and sheath join

Order Commelinales

Family Commelinaceae
· herbs, often with 3-celled glandular hairs
· foliage often succulent with swollen nodes
· alternate leaves with sheathing leaf bases
· perfect flowers in a cyme
· Tradescantia—spiderwort; Zebrina—wandering Jew; Commelina