Campanulidae

Campanulidae, also known as campanulids, is a major lineage of flowering plants within the eudicots. In modern classifications it is recognized as a clade within the asterids, one of the two principal subdivisions of that group; older systems sometimes treat Campanulidae as a separate subclass. The campanulids are a diverse and widespread assemblage, including many herbaceous species, shrubs, and some trees, with a cosmopolitan distribution.

The group comprises numerous families and thousands of species. Among the more familiar members are the Campanulaceae (bellflowers) and the large and economically important family Asteraceae (the daisies and sunflowers), which is placed within the order Asterales, itself part of Campanulidae. Other included lineages include diverse families such as Lobeliaceae and several others; the exact composition has varied with competing taxonomic systems, especially as molecular data reshaped relationships within the asterids.

Characteristic features are diverse, reflecting substantial evolutionary diversification. In general, campanulids include many species with fused petals forming tubular or bell-shaped corollas, though there is extensive variation. Fruits are typically capsules or achenes, and many species exhibit diverse pollination strategies.

In summary, Campanulidae represents a major eudicot lineage within the asterids, encompassing a wide range of life forms and taxa, and it has been a focal point of modern plant phylogenetics and reclassification under the APG system.