comprising seed plants that produce an embryo with paired cotyledons and net-veined leaves; divided into six (not always well distinguished) subclasses (or superorders): Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae (considered primitive), Caryophyllidae (an early and distinctive offshoot), and three more or less advanced groups: Dilleniidae, Rosidae, Asteridae | a group of families of mostly flowers having basal or central placentation and trinucleate pollen (binucleate pollen is commoner in flowering plants); contains 14 families including: Caryophyllaceae (carnations and pinks), Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae, Batidaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cactaceae (order Opuntiales), Nyctaginaceae, Phytolaccaceae |