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Which molecular and chemical features support the expanded Lamiales group?
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Lamiales
The lilac-pink flowers of the water mint attract butterflies and beetles.
The expanded Lamiales order, as defined by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV (APG IV) system, is supported by a variety of consistent molecular and chemical characteristics shared across its diverse families.12
Key Molecular and Chemical Features
The classification of this expanded group is reinforced by several distinct biological traits:
- Carbohydrate Storage: Unlike many other plant groups, members of the Lamiales store carbohydrates as oligosaccharides rather than as starch.2
- Chemical Compounds: These plants frequently produce specialized chemical compounds, most notably oxygenated flavones.2
- Stomatal Morphology: The leaves of these plants possess specialized stomata, which serve as a technical character supporting the order's cohesion.2
These features, alongside morphological traits such as the frequent presence of glandular hairs, opposite leaves, and mostly capsular fruits, provide the evidence necessary to group these heterogeneous families together within the lamiids lineage.12