A system of plant taxonomy, the Thorne system of plant classification was devised by the American botanist Robert F. Thorne (1920–2015) in 1968, and he continued to issue revisions over many years (1968–2007).

Some versions of the system are available online. The Bioinformatics Working Group Center for the Study of Digital Libraries at Texas A&M University lists the March 1999 version (and other classification systems). James Reveal's course lecture notes (1999) also gives an account of the Thorne system at that time, with an extensive listing of synonyms, both nomenclatural and taxonomic, for each name in the system together with several other classification systems.

For a discussion of the various suffixes used for superorders (-florae vs. -anae), see Brummitt 1992, and Thorne 1992. In this latter paper, Thorne sets out his reasons for abandoning -florae for -anae, following contemporary practice.

1968 System

Monocotyledons

Superorders

• Superorder Alimatiflorae

• Superorder Triuridiflorae

• Superorder Liliiflorae

  1. Order Liliales

  Superorder Ariflorae

• Superorder Commeliniflorae

1992 System

The 1992 system lists 69 orders and 440 families

Summary

• Class Magnoliopsida [= angiosperms ]

  1. Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]

     1. Superorder Magnolianae

     2. Superorder Nymphaeanae

     3. Superorder Rafflesianae

     4. Superorder Caryophyllanae

     5. Superorder Theanae

     6. Superorder Celastranae

     7. Superorder Malvanae

     8. Superorder Violanae

     9. Superorder Santalanae

     10. Superorder Geranianae

     11. Superorder Rutanae

     12. Superorder Proteanae

     13. Superorder Rosanae

     14. Superorder Cornanae

     15. Superorder Asteranae

     16. Superorder Solananae

     17. Superorder Loasanae

     18. Superorder Myrtanae

     19. Superorder Gentiananae

     Subclass Liliidae [= monocotyledons ]

     1. Superorder Lilianae

     2. Superorder Hydatellanae

     3. Superorder Triuridanae

     4. Superorder Alismatanae

     5. Superorder Aranae

     6. Superorder Cyclanthanae

     7. Superorder Pandananae

     8. Superorder Arecanae

     9. Superorder Commelinanae

Magnoliidae

1. Subclass Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons ]

   1. Superorder Magnolianae

      1. Order Magnoliales

         1. Family Winteraceae

         2. Family Illiciaceae

         3. Family Schisandraceae

         4. Family Magnoliaceae

         5. Family Degeneriaceae

         6. Family Himantandraceae

         7. Family Eupomatiaceae

         8. Family Annonaceae

         9. Family Aristolochiaceae

         10. Family Myristicaceae

         11. Family Canellaceae

         12. Family Austrobaileyaceae

         13. Family Amborellaceae

         14. Family Trimeniaceae

         15. Family Chloranthaceae

         16. Family Monimiaceae

         17. Family Gomortegaceae

         18. Family Calycanthaceae

         19. Family Lauraceae

         20. Family Hernandiaceae

         21. Family Lactoridaceae

         22. Family Saururaceae

         23. Family Piperaceae

         Order Ceratophyllales

         1. Family Ceratophyllaceae

         Order Nelumbonales

         1. Family Nelumbonaceae

         Order Paeoniales

         1. Family Paeoniaceae

         2. Family Glaucidiaceae

         Order Berberidales

         1. Family Menispermaceae

         2. Family Lardizabalaceae

         3. Family Sargentodoxaceae

         4. Family Berberidaceae

         5. Family Hydrastidaceae

         6. Family Ranunculaceae

         7. Family Circaeasteraceae

         8. Family Papaveraceae

      Superorder Nymphaeanae

      1. Order Nymphaeales

         1. Family Cabombaceae

         2. Family Nymphaeaceae

      Superorder Rafflesianae

      1. Order Rafflesiales

         1. Family Hydnoraceae

         2. Family Rafflesiaceae

      Superorder Caryophyllanae

      1. Order Caryophyllales

         1. Family Caryophyllaceae

         2. Family Portulacaceae

         3. Family Hectorellaceae

         4. Family Basellaceae

         5. Family Didiereaceae

         6. Family Cactaceae

         7. Family Phytolaccaceae

         8. Family Petiveriaceae

         9. Family Agdestidaceae

         10. Family Barbeuiaceae

         11. Family Achatocarpaceae

         12. Family Stegnospermataceae

         13. Family Nyctaginaceae

         14. Family Aizoaceae

         15. Family Halophytaceae

         16. Family Molluginaceae

         17. Family Chenopodiaceae

         18. Family Amaranthaceae

      Superorder Theanae

      1. Order Theales

         1. Family Dilleniaceae

         2. Family Actinidiaceae

         3. Family Paracryphiaceae

         4. Family Stachyuraceae

         5. Family Theaceae

         6. Family Asteropeiaceae

         7. Family Tetrameristaceae

         8. Family Pellicieraceae

         9. Family Chrysobalanaceae

         10. Family Symplocaceae

         11. Family Caryocaraceae

         12. Family Marcgraviaceae

         13. Family Oncothecaceae

         14. Family Aquifoliaceae

         15. Family Phellinaceae

         16. Family Sphenostemonaceae

         17. Family Sarraceniaceae

         18. Family Pentaphylacaceae

         19. Family Clethraceae

         20. Family Cyrillaceae

         21. Family Ochnaceae

         22. Family Quiinaceae

         23. Family Scytopetalaceae

         24. Family Medusagynaceae

         25. Family Strasburgeriaceae

         26. Family Ancistrocladaceae

         27. Family Dioncophyllaceae

         28. Family Nepenthaceae

         29. Family Bonnetiaceae

         30. Family Clusiaceae

         31. Family Elatinaceae

         32. Family Lecythidaceae

         Order Ericales

         1. Family Ericaceae

         2. Family Epacridaceae

         3. Family Empetraceae

         Order Fouquieriales

         1. Family Fouquieriaceae

         Order Styracales

         1. Family Ebenaceae

         2. Family Lissocarpaceae

         3. Family Sapotaceae

         4. Family Styracaceae

         Order Primulales

         1. Family Theophrastaceae

         2. Family Myrsinaceae

         3. Family Primulaceae

         4. Family Plumbaginaceae

         Order Polygonales

         1. Family Polygonaceae

      Superorder Celastranae

      1. Order Celastrales

         1. Family Celastraceae

         2. Family Goupiaceae

         3. Family Lophopyxidaceae

         4. Family Stackhousiaceae

         5. Family Corynocarpaceae

      Superorder Malvanae

      1. Order Malvales

         1. Family Sterculiaceae

         2. Family Huaceae

         3. Family Elaeocarpaceae

         4. Family Plagiopteraceae

         5. Family Tiliaceae

         6. Family Monotaceae

         7. Family Dipterocarpaceae

         8. Family Sarcolaenaceae

         9. Family Sphaerosepalaceae

         10. Family Bombacaceae

         11. Family Malvaceae

         Order Urticales

         1. Family Ulmaceae

         2. Family Moraceae

         3. Family Cecropiaceae

         4. Family Barbeyaceae

         5. Family Urticaceae

         6. Family Cannabaceae

         Order Rhamnales

         1. Family Rhamnaceae

         2. Family Elaeagnaceae

         Order Euphorbiales

         1. Family Euphorbiaceae

         2. Family Aextoxicaceae

         3. Family Simmondsiaceae

         4. Family Dichapetalaceae

         5. Family Gonystylaceae

         6. Family Thymelaeaceae

      Superorder Violanae

      1. Order Violales

         1. Family Bixaceae

         2. Family Cochlospermaceae

         3. Family Cistaceae

         4. Family Violaceae

         5. Family Flacourtiaceae

         6. Family Physenaceae

         7. Family Lacistemataceae

         8. Family Salicaceae

         9. Family Dipentodontaceae

         10. Family Peridiscaceae

         11. Family Scyphostegiaceae

         12. Family Passifloraceae

         13. Family Turneriaceae

         14. Family Malesherbiaceae

         15. Family Achariaceae

         16. Family Caricaceae

         17. Family Tamaricaceae

         18. Family Frankeniaceae

         19. Family Cucurbitaceae

         20. Family Begoniaceae

         21. Family Datiscaceae

         Order Brassicales

         1. Family Resedaceae

         2. Family Capparaceae

         3. Family Brassicaceae

         4. Family Salvadoraceae

         5. Family Gyrostemonaceae

         Order Batales

         1. Family Bataceae

      Superorder Santalanae

      1. Order Santalales

         1. Family Olacaceae

         2. Family Opiliaceae

         3. Family Medusandraceae

         4. Family Santalaceae

         5. Family Misodendraceae

         6. Family Loranthaceae

         7. Family Eremolepidaceae

         8. Family Viscaceae

         Order Balanophorales

         1. Family Balanophoraceae

         2. Family Cynomoriaceae

      Superorder Geranianae

      1. Order Linales

         1. Family Humiriaceae

         2. Family Ctenolophonaceae

         3. Family Hugoniaceae

         4. Family Ixonanthaceae

         5. Family Linaceae

         6. Family Erythroxylaceae

         7. Family Zygophyllaceae

         8. Family Balanitaceae

         Order Rhizophorales

         1. Family Rhizophoraceae

         Order Geraniales

         1. Family Oxalidaceae

         2. Family Geraniaceae

         3. Family Balsaminaceae

         4. Family Tropaeolaceae

         5. Family Limnanthaceae

         Order Polygalales

         1. Family Malpighiaceae

         2. Family Trigoniaceae

         3. Family Vochysiaceae

         4. Family Polygalaceae

         5. Family Krameriaceae

      Superorder Rutanae

      1. Order Rutales

         1. Family Rutaceae

         2. Family Rhabdodendraceae

         3. Family Cneoraceae

         4. Family Simaroubaceae

         5. Family Picramniaceae

         6. Family Ptaeroxylaceae

         7. Family Meliaceae

         8. Family Burseraceae

         9. Family Anacardiaceae

         10. Family Leitneriaceae

         11. Family Tepuianthaceae

         12. Family Coriariaceae

         13. Family Sapindaceae

         14. Family Sabiaceae

         15. Family Melianthaceae

         16. Family Akaniaceae

         17. Family Bretschneideraceae

         18. Family Moringaceae

         19. Family Surianaceae

         20. Family Connaraceae

         21. Family Fabaceae

      Superorder Proteanae

      1. Order Proteales

         1. Family Proteaceae

      Superorder Rosanae

      1. Order Hamamelidales

         1. Family Trochodendraceae

         2. Family Eupteleaceae

         3. Family Cercidiphyllaceae

         4. Family Platanaceae

         5. Family Hamamelidaceae

         Order Casuarinales

         1. Family Casuarinaceae

         Order Balanopales

         1. Family Buxaceae

         2. Family Didymelaceae

         3. Family Daphniphyllaceae

         4. Family Balanopaceae

         Order Bruniales

         1. Family Roridulaceae

         2. Family Bruniaceae

         3. Family Geissolomataceae

         4. Family Grubbiaceae

         5. Family Myrothamnaceae

         6. Family Hydrostachyaceae

         Order Juglandales

         1. Family Rhoipteleaceae

         2. Family Juglandaceae

         3. Family Myricaceae

         Order Betulales

         1. Family Ticodendraceae

         2. Family Betulaceae

         3. Family Nothofagaceae

         4. Family Fagaceae

         Order Rosales

         1. Family Rosaceae

         2. Family Neuradaceae

         3. Family Crossosomataceae

         4. Family Anisophylleaceae

         Order Saxifragales

         1. Family Tetracarpaeaceae

         2. Family Crassulaceae

         3. Family Cephalotaceae

         4. Family Penthoraceae

         5. Family Saxifragaceae

         6. Family Francoaceae

         7. Family Grossulariaceae

         8. Family Vahliaceae

         9. Family Eremosynaceae

         10. Family Lepuropetalaceae

         11. Family Parnassiaceae

         12. Family Stylidiaceae

         13. Family Droseraceae

         14. Family Greyiaceae

         15. Family Diapensiaceae

         Order Podostemales

         1. Family Podostemaceae

         Order Cunoniales

         1. Family Cunoniaceae

         2. Family Davidsoniaceae

         3. Family Staphyleaceae

      Superorder Cornanae

      1. Order Hydrangeales

         1. Family Hydrangeaceae

         2. Family Escalloniaceae

         3. Family Carpodetaceae

         4. Family Griseliniaceae

         5. Family Alseuosmiaceae

         6. Family Montiniaceae

         7. Family Brexiaceae

         8. Family Columelliaceae

         9. Family Desfontainiaceae

         Order Cornales

         1. Family Vitaceae

         2. Family Gunneraceae

         3. Family Haloragaceae

         4. Family Cornaceae

         5. Family Curtisiaceae

         6. Family Alangiaceae

         7. Family Garryaceae

         8. Family Aucubaceae

         9. Family Aralidiaceae

         10. Family Eucommiaceae

         11. Family Icacinaceae

         12. Family Metteniusaceae

         13. Family Cardiopteridaceae

         14. Family Peripterygiaceae

         Order Pittosporales

         1. Family Pittosporaceae

         2. Family Byblidaceae

         3. Family Tremandraceae

         Order Araliales

         1. Family Helwingiaceae

         2. Family Torricelliaceae

         3. Family Araliaceae

         4. Family Hydrocotylaceae

         5. Family Apiaceae

         Order Dipsacales

         1. Family Caprifoliaceae

         2. Family Adoxaceae

         3. Family Valerianaceae

         4. Family Triplostegiaceae

         5. Family Dipsacaceae

         6. Family Morinaceae

      Superorder Asteranae

      1. Order Asterales

         1. Family Calyceraceae

         2. Family Asteraceae

         Order Campanulales

         1. Family Menyanthaceae

         2. Family Pentaphragmataceae

         3. Family Sphenocleaceae

         4. Family Campanulaceae

         5. Family Goodeniaceae

      Superorder Solananae

      1. Order Solanales

         1. Family Solanaceae

         2. Family Duckeodendraceae

         3. Family Goetzeaceae

         4. Family Nolanaceae

         5. Family Convolvulaceae

         6. Family Hydrophyllaceae

         7. Family Boraginaceae

         8. Family Hoplestigmataceae

         9. Family Lennoaceae

         10. Family Tetrachondraceae

         11. Family Polemoniaceae

      Superorder Loasanae

      1. Order Loasales

         1. Family Loasaceae

      Superorder Myrtanae

      1. Order Myrtales

         1. Family Lythraceae

         2. Family Alzateaceae

         3. Family Rhynchocalycaceae

         4. Family Penaeaceae

         5. Family Oliniaceae

         6. Family Trapaceae

         7. Family Crypteroniaceae

         8. Family Melastomataceae

         9. Family Combretaceae

         10. Family Onagraceae

         11. Family Myrtaceae

      Superorder Gentiananae

      1. Order Gentianales

         1. Family Loganiaceae

         2. Family Rubiaceae

         3. Family Dialypetalanthaceae

         4. Family Apocynaceae

         5. Family Gentianaceae

         6. Family Saccifoliaceae

         Order Scrophulariales

         1. Family Oleaceae

         2. Family Buddlejaceae

         3. Family Stilbaceae

         4. Family Bignoniaceae

         5. Family Pedaliaceae

         6. Family Martyniaceae

         7. Family Myoporaceae

         8. Family Scrophulariaceae

         9. Family Gesneriaceae

         10. Family Globulariaceae

         11. Family Plantaginaceae

         12. Family Lentibulariaceae

         13. Family Acanthaceae

         14. Family Callitrichaceae

         15. Family Hippuridaceae

         16. Family Verbenaceae

         17. Family Phrymaceae

         18. Family Symphoremataceae

         19. Family Nesogenaceae

         20. Family Avicenniaceae

         21. Family Lamiaceae

Liliidae

1. Subclass Liliidae [= monocotyledons ]

   1. Superorder Lilianae

      1. Order Liliales

         1. Family Melanthiaceae

         2. Family Campynemataceae

         3. Family Alstroemeriaceae

         4. Family Colchicaceae

         5. Family Liliaceae

         6. Family Trilliaceae

         7. Family Iridaceae

         Order Burmanniales

         1. Family Burmanniaceae

         2. Family Corsiaceae

         Order Asparagales

         1. Family Asparagaceae

         2. Family Luzuriagaceae

         3. Family Asphodelaceae

         4. Family Aphyllanthaceae

         5. Family Phormiaceae

         6. Family Tecophilaeaceae

         7. Family Lanariaceae

         8. Family Hemerocallidaceae

         9. Family Asteliaceae

         10. Family Hanguanaceae

         11. Family Agavaceae

         12. Family Hostaceae

         13. Family Blandfordiaceae

         14. Family Dasypogonaceae

         15. Family Xanthorrhoeaceae

         16. Family Ixioliriaceae

         17. Family Hyacinthaceae

         18. Family Alliaceae

         19. Family Amaryllidaceae

         20. Family Hypoxidaceae

         21. Family Velloziaceae

         22. Family Cyanastraceae

         23. Family Eriospermaceae

         Order Dioscoreales

         1. Family Philesiaceae

         2. Family Ripogonaceae

         3. Family Petermanniaceae

         4. Family Smilacaceae

         5. Family Dioscoreaceae

         6. Family Trichopodaceae

         7. Family Stemonaceae

         8. Family Taccaceae

         Order Orchidales

         1. Family Orchidaceae

      Superorder Hydatellanae

      1. Order Hydatellales

         1. Family Hydatellaceae

      Superorder Triuridanae

      1. Order Triuridales

         1. Family Triuridaceae

      Superorder Alismatanae

      1. Order Alismatales

         1. Family Butomaceae

         2. Family Alismataceae

         3. Family Hydrocharitaceae

         Order Potamogetonales

         1. Family Aponogetonaceae

         2. Family Scheuchzeriaceae

         3. Family Juncaginaceae

         4. Family Potamogetonaceae

         5. Family Posidoniaceae

         6. Family Cymodoceaceae

         7. Family Zannichelliaceae

         8. Family Zosteraceae

      Superorder Aranae

      1. Order Acorales

         1. Family Acoraceae

         Order Arales

         1. Family Araceae

         2. Family Lemnaceae

      Superorder Cyclanthanae

      1. Order Cyclanthales

         1. Family Cyclanthaceae

      Superorder Pandananae

      1. Order Pandanales

         1. Family Pandanaceae

      Superorder Arecanae

      1. Order Arecales

         1. Family Arecaceae

      Superorder Commelinanae

      1. Order Bromeliales

         1. Family Bromeliaceae

         Order Philydrales

         1. Family Philydraceae

         2. Family Pontederiaceae

         3. Family Haemodoraceae

         Order Typhales

         1. Family Typhaceae

         Order Zingiberales

         1. Family Musaceae

         2. Family Strelitziaceae

         3. Family Lowiaceae

         4. Family Heliconiaceae

         5. Family Zingiberaceae

         6. Family Costaceae

         7. Family Cannaceae

         8. Family Marantaceae

         Order Commelinales

         1. Family Rapateaceae

         2. Family Xyridaceae

         3. Family Commelinaceae

         4. Family Mayacaceae

         5. Family Eriocaulaceae

         Order Juncales

         1. Family Thurniaceae

         2. Family Juncaceae

         3. Family Cyperaceae

         Order Poales

         1. Family Flagellariaceae

         2. Family Joinvilleaceae

         3. Family Restionaceae

         4. Family Ecdeiocoleaceae

         5. Family Centrolepidaceae

         6. Family Poaceae

2007 System

The 2007 system lists 12 subclasses, 35 superorders, 87 orders, 40 suborders, and 472 families. It uses the suffixes given in the following example.

Class Magnoliopsida ("Angiospermae") - 12 subclasses

Subclass Magnoliidae

Superorder: Magnolianae

Order: Magnoliales

SubOrder: Magnoliineae

Family: Magnoliaceae

SubFamily: Magnolioideae

• Tribe: Magnolieae

• Subclasses (12)

• 1. Chloranthidae

• 2. Magnoliidae [= dicotyledons]

• 3. Alismatidae

4. Liliidae - 3 superorders

• Pandananae

• Dioscoreanae

Lilianae - 3 orders

Liliales - 12 families

• Corsiaceae Becc., 1878

• Campynemataceae Dumort., 1829

• Melanthiaceae Batsch ex Borkh., 1797

• Trilliaceae Chevall., 1827

• Petermanniaceae Hutch., 1934

• Luzuriagaceae Lotsy, 1911 (incl. Drymophila R. Br.)

• Alstroemeriaceae Dumort., 1829

• Colchicaceae DC., 1804

• Rhipogonaceae Conran & Clifford, 1985

• Philesiaceae Dumort., 1829

• Smilacaceae Vent., 1799

• Liliaceae Juss., 1789

• Orchidales

• Iridales

• 5. Commelinidae

• 6. Ranunculidae

• 7. Hamamelididae

• 8. Caryophyllidae

• 9. Rosidae

• 10. Malvidae

• 11. Asteridae

• 12. Lamiidae

Note: Monocotyledons are represented here by 3 separate subclasses 3–5

References

Bibliography

Works by Thorne