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Why was Elaeocarpaceae moved from Malvales to Oxalidales?

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Baobab — Malvales A fony baobab tree (*Adansonia rubrostipa*), estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, in Madagascar.

The reclassification of the family Elaeocarpaceae from the order Malvales to the order Oxalidales is a result of advancements in plant phylogeny driven by modern molecular techniques.12

Historically, botanical classification systems—such as the one developed by Arthur Cronquist—relied primarily on morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics. Under these older schemes, Elaeocarpaceae was traditionally associated with Malvales.12

However, since the 1990s, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) has utilized large-scale molecular analysis, specifically the sequencing of DNA from chloroplasts and nuclei, to determine evolutionary relationships. These molecular data provided more robust and testable evidence that often conflicted with earlier, morphology-based groupings. Consequently, based on these genetic findings, Elaeocarpaceae is now placed within Oxalidales in the APG system, reflecting a more accurate understanding of its evolutionary lineage.12