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Chelsea Physic Garden
salvia

Botanical Order Beds

The Dicotyledon botanical family beds are laid out in accordance with a modified Bentham and Hooker system of classification. This arrangement was designed to show a possible evolutionary sequence and to indicate relationships between species. This system of classification is based on flower structure, but more recent studies based on molecular analysis would rearrange the beds considerably.
A plan of the Dicotyledon Order Beds (PDF/15Kb)

The Monocotyledon order beds are laid out following the Natural system of classification proposed by Lindley.
These beds cantain the following families: Acoraceae, Agavaceae, Aloaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, Bromeliaceae, Cannaceae, Cyperaceae, Commelinaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Iridaceae, Juncaceae, Liliaceae, Musaceae, Orchidaceae, Palmae, Poaceae, Smilacaceae, Zingiberaceae.

For a detailed paper on the history of order beds, see Order Beds in a Botanical Garden (Word doc/71KB) by Dr. David Frodin.

A picture of the dicotyledon order beds
A view of the dicotyledon order beds, Spring 2005