Apg classification

The APG system, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, of plant classification is the first version of a modern system of plant taxonomy. Apg1, the first version, was published in 1998 by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.
The original APG system is unusual in being based only on the cladistic analysis of the DNA sequences of three genes, two chloroplast genes and one gene coding for ribosomes. It is striking that its constituent groups prove to be supported by other evidence as well, for example pollen morphology supports the split between the eudicots and the rest of the former dicotyledons.
The system is rather controversial in its decisions at the family level, splitting a number of long-established families and submerging a number of other families. It also is unusual in not using botanical names above the level of order, that is, an order is the highest rank that will have a formal botanical name in this system. Higher groups are defined only as clades, with names such as monocots, eudicots, rosids, asterids.VersionsApg1 published in 1998.
Apg2 published in 2003.
Apg3 published in 2009.
Apg4 published in 2017.TaxonomyThe taxonomy is not a straightforward process. As long as it has not been discovered what is the underlying principle the classification is debatable. I hope that this book will contribute to discover this underlying principle, the essence of plants.
The groups at the start are often difficult to establish. For instance, the Eudicots have a beginning with 7 orders of which 5 were only established in the 3rd version of the Apg classification.Apg3This classification is the best that exists at the moment. But it is not definite yet, still under construction. This can be seen from the revisions, going from Apg1, to Apg3. Many aspects are very solid, confirmed over and over by cladistic analysis and confirming chemistry and morphology. But there are also parts that are dubious. Some orders lack morphological confirmation. Others are placed differently according to which DNA is researched. And it can turn out that DNA is not the definite answer. It is also another expression of a deeper essence.
It has been stated that molecular phylogenetics is not a sure-fire, problem-free method of determining systematic relationships. Parasitic plants especially are difficult to place as the most genes for phylogentics are the ones for the chlorophyll, inverting repeat regions of the chloroplast genome.MonophylyThere is a strong tendency to give names only to monophyletic groups. This works out very well for end branches in the evolutionary tree. But for early development this leads to problems. Many of them can be found in the chapter Phyla.Name confusionThe first problem is that early evolutionary groups cannot be given an adequate name. For instance the mosses, also called Bryophyta, is not a monophyletic group. The reason for that is that the Tracheophyta, the vascular plants developed out of them. But including the vascular plants into the mosses would give the impression that they are also mosses. This leads to confusion. Bryophta is now a name that sometimes is given to all land plants, sometimes it is a name for all mosses, including the Liverworts and Hornworts and sometimes it is the name for the mosses in a more narrow sense, sensu strictu. In the past the Liverworts and Hornworts were included in one Phylum with the mosses, the Bryophyta.Level confusionA second problem is the determination of the level of a clade. For instance the Angiospermae is seen in the past as a phylum, a division. But it is part of the Spermatophyta and thus that should have a higher level, for instance Superphylum. The Spermatophyta are part of the Traceophyta thus Tracheophyta should also have a higher level, for instance Supersuperphylum. The Tracheophyta are part of the Bryophyta thus Bryophyta should have a higher level, for instance Subkingdom.
The latest development in evolution is often the biggest group, like the Angiospermae. But that group has many levels of which it is part. The biggest group then gets the lowest level. And some small clades early in the evolution get a very high level.Paraphyletic cladesIn my opinion it is clearer to use the old divisions, even when they are paraphyletic. The mosses and Gymnospermae are clear distinct groups, they can be identified easily and have had a period in the evolution were they were the most prominent group. Later evolutions led to new clades, with special new features. And even when they belong to the old evolutionary group from the point of view of monophyly, it is clearer to see both clades as distinct. The Gymnospermae were once monophyletic in the time they were the main and last evolutionary development.PolyphyleticPrephyleticExampleAn example may clarify the situation. Tetradiclis tenella has been described as belonging to the following clades:
Kingdom Plants
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Streptophyta
Streptophytina
Embryophyta
Phylum Tracheophyta
Intraphylum Euphyllophyta
Spermatophyta
Class Magnoliophyta
Eudicotyledons
Core eudicotyledons
Rosids
Superorder Malvidae
Order Sapindales
Family Nitrariaceae
Genus Tetradiclis
Species Tetradiclis tenella
There are 17 Levels in de description, of which 8 are above the level of Angiospermae. These are necessary when one adheres strictly to using only monophyletic clades. The description of the levels become difficult, as one needs Phylum, subphylum, Superphylum, Intraphylum and so on.The description according to the Plant theory is
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Angiospermae = Magnoliophyta
Class Malvanae
Subclass Malvidae
Order Sapindales
Family Nitrariaceae
Genus Tetradiclis
Species Tetradiclis tenella