class Dicotyledonae
n 1: comprising seed plants that produce an embryo with paired
cotyledons and net-veined leaves; divided into six (not
always well distinguished) subclasses (or superorders):
Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae (considered primitive);
Caryophyllidae (an early and distinctive offshoot); and
three more or less advanced groups: Dilleniidae; Rosidae;
Asteridae [syn: {Dicotyledones}, {class Dicotyledones},
{Dicotyledonae}, {class Dicotyledonae}, {Magnoliopsida},
{class Magnoliopsida}]