How did DNA evidence support recognizing Malpighiales as a clade?

The recognition of Malpighiales as a clade is primarily the result of large-scale molecular analyses rather than traditional morphological classification.12

In the past, the families now included in Malpighiales were scattered across various orders, and many were difficult to define using morphological, chemical, or anatomical characters alone. The shift occurred as botanists began using molecular techniques, specifically the sequencing of DNA segments from plant cell nuclei and chloroplasts.12

These molecular studies provided robust, testable data that allowed researchers to identify evolutionary relationships that were previously obscured. Through this DNA evidence, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) was able to demonstrate that these diverse families share a common ancestor, establishing Malpighiales as a monophyletic group—or clade—within the Rosids I group of the core eudicots. While the order remains morphologically diverse and lacks a single, simple set of defining physical traits, it is considered to have strong molecular support.21