Name: Gnetophyta; Gnetophytes.
Botany: 3 genera; 70 species; woody plants; gnetophytes differ from other gymnosperms in having vessel elements as found in flowering plants.
TaxonomyIn the
Plant theory a Class
Gnetidae is made, a Class in the
Gymnospermae.
Gnetidae is in the
Silicon series of the
Gymnospermae.
Gnetales is the only Order in
Gnetidae.
The evolutionary relationships remain unclear: in some classifications, all three genera are placed in one order
Gnetales. In other classifications they are distributed among three orders, each with a single family and genus.
FamiliesGnetaceae: Gnetum.
Welwitschiaceae:
Welwitschia mirabilis.
Ephedraceae: Ephedra.