Eurosids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A major clade of flowering plants characterized by shared genetic traits and evolutionary lineage within the rosid group ; encompassing a large diversity of species including many trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants ; defined primarily by molecular phylogenetic analysis indicating common ancestry
2. A grouping in plant taxonomy representing a subset of rosids distinguished by molecular markers and morphological features ; including various families known for their economic and ecological significance ; identified through cladistic methods as a monophyletic assemblage
3. A classification of dicotyledonous plants forming part of the rosid clade, recognized by DNA sequence data ; comprising numerous angiosperm families united by evolutionary descent ; noted for encompassing many widespread and diverse plant species

Etymology: "Eurosids" is the plural of "eurosid," a member of the large clade of flowering plants that botanists call the eurosids. The word is a modern scientific coinage rather than an old folk term, built on the name of the group's two main branches: the eurosids I (the rosids, including roses and legumes) and the eurosids II (including the mustards and the crucifers). The "-id" ending follows the convention of plant-group names ending in "-id," which marks a clade in taxonomic naming.

Synonyms: rosids, fabids