The Top 25 Most Economically Important Angiosperm Families

(monocot families in italics)


Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis family
Agapanthus, Allium (chives, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots)
Anacardiaceae - Sumac family
Genera: Anacardium (cashew), Mangifera (mango), Pistacia (pistachio)
Asteraceae - Daisy family
Carthamus (safflower), Chrysanthemum, Cichorium (endive), Coreopsis, Cynara (artichoke), Helianthus (sunflower), Lactuca (lettuce), Zinnia
Araceae - Aroid family
Colocasia (taro)
Arecaceae - Palm family
Cocos (coconut), Elaeis (oil palm), Phoenix (date)
Brassicaceae - Mustard family
Brassica (cabbages, mustard, rape, turnips), Erysimum (wallflower), Iberis (candytuft), Lobularia (alyssum), Raphanus (radishes)
Caricaceae - Papaya family
Carica (papaya)
Chenopodiaceae - Chenopod family
Beta (beet, chard, sugarbeet), Chenopodium (quinoa), Spinacia (spinach)
Convolvulaceae - Morning Glory family
Ipomoea (morning glory, sweet potato)
Cucurbitaceae - Gourd family
Citrullus (watermelon), Cucumis (cantaloupe and cucumber), Cucurbita (squashes)
Dioscoreaceae - Yam family
Diascorea (yams)
Euphorbiaceae - Crown-of-Thorns family
Hevea (rubber), Manihot (cassava or manioc), Poinsettia, Ricinus (castor bean)
Fabaceae - Legume family
Arachis (peanut), Cajanus (pigeonpea), Cicer (chickpea), Glycine (soybean), Indigofera (indigo), Lathyrus (sweetpea), Lens (lentils), Lotus (trefoils), Medicago (alfalfa), Phaseolus (bean), Pisum (pea), Tamarindus (tamarind), Trifolium (clovers), Vicia (fabas and vetches), Vigna (cowpea and mung bean)
Lauraceae - Laurel family
Cinnamomum (cinnamon), Laurus (laurel or bay), Persea (avocado)
Malvaceae - Hibiscus family
Abelmoschus (okra), Gossypium (cottons), Hibiscus
Moraceae - Mulberry family
Artocarpus (breadfruit), Ficus (fig), Morus (mulberry)
Musaceae - Banana family
Ensete (Ethiopian banana), Musa (bananas, plantains)
Oleaceae - Olive family
Forsythia, Fraxinus (ashes), Jasminum, Olea (olive), Syringa (lilacs)
Poaceae - Grass family
Agropyron (wheatgrasses), Agrostis (bentgrasses), Avena (oats), Bambusa (bamboos), Bromus (bromes), Eleusine (millets), Eragrostis (teff), Festuca (fescues), Hordeum (barley), Lolium (ryegrasses), Oryza (rices), Panicum (proso millet), Pennisetum (pearl millet), Phalaris (canary grasses), Phleum (timothy), Poa (bluegrasses), Saccharum (sugarcane), Secale (rye), Setaria (foxtail millet), Sorghum (sorghums), Triticosecale (triticales), Triticum (wheats), Zea (corn), Zizania (wild rice)
Rosaceae - Rose family
Fragaria (strawberry), Malus (apple), Prunus (almond, apricot, cherry, peach, plum), Pyracantha, Pyrus (pears), Rosa (rose), Rubus (blackberry, raspberry)
Rubiaceae - Coffee family
Cinchona, Coffea (coffee), Gardenia
Rutaceae - Citrus family
Citrus (citron, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, pummelo, tangelo, tangerine), Fortunella (kumquat)
Solanaceae - Nightshade family
Atropa (belladonna), Capsicum (peppers), Cyphomandra (tree tomato), Datura (jimsonweed), Lycopersicon (tomato), Nicotiana (tobacco), Petunia, Physalis (tomatillo, ground cherry), Solanum (eggplant, potato)
Umbelliferae - Parsley family
Anethum (dill), Apium (celery), Carum (caraway), Coriandrum (cilantro or coriander), Cuminum (cumin), Daucus (carrot), Foeniculum (fennel), Pastinaca (parsnip), Petroselinium (parsley), Pimpinella (anise)
Vitaceae - Grape family
Vitis (grapes)

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