Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which Fagales family is considered the oldest offshoot of the order?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Fagales
European beech (Fagus sylvatica).
The Nothofagaceae family, commonly known as the southern beech family, is considered the oldest offshoot of the Fagales order.1
These plants appear to have diversified before the final separation of Gondwana during the late Cretaceous Period, and today their lineages are found in Australia, New Zealand, and South America.1