The figure above (redrawn from Cronquist, 1988, fig. 6.1) depicts phyletic relationships among subclasses of the Class Magnoliopsida, as envisioned by Cronquist. This alignment features the Magnoliidae as including extant dicot elements that carry the greatest number of archaic features (similar to the 'original' flowering plant) and the Asteridae (Sunflowers and relatives) as the most 'derived' or specialized element of the Class. The size of the 'balloons' is roughly proportional to the number of species per subclass.

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