1. Bessey’s Dicta  1. Woody plants came before herbs.

2. Bessey’s Dicta  1. Woody plants came before herbs.  2. Perennials before biennials or annuals.

3. Bessey’s Dicta  1. Woody plants came before herbs.  2. Perennials before biennials or annuals.  3. Alternate leaves are primitive; opposite or whorled are advanced.

4. Bessey’s Dicta  1. Woody plants came before herbs.  2. Perennials before biennials or annuals.  3. Alternate leaves are primitive; opposite or whorled are advanced.  4. Bisexual flowers are primitive.

5. Bessey’s Dicta  1. Woody plants came before herbs.  2. Perennials before biennials or annuals.  3. Alternate leaves are primitive; opposite or whorled are advanced.  4. Bisexual flowers are primitive.  5. Many parted spirally arranged flowers are primitive to all other arrangements.

6. Bessey’s Dicta  5. Many parted spirally arranged flowers are primitive to all other arrangements.  6. Hypogyny is primitive to epigyny and perigyny.

7. Bessey’s Dicta  5. Many parted spirally arranged flowers are primitive to all other arrangements.  6. Hypogyny is primitive to epigyny and perigyny.  7. Numerous separate carpels are primitive to fewer fused carpels.

8. Bessey’s Dicta  5. Many parted spirally arranged flowers are primitive to all other arrangements.  6. Hypogyny is primitive to epigyny and perigyny.  7. Numerous separate carpels are primitive to fewer fused carpels.  8. Pollen grains with 1 pore preceded those with 2 or more pores.

9. Bessey’s Dicta  8. Pollen grains with 1 pore preceded those with 2 or more pores.  9. Axile placentation preceded free central placentation.

10. Bessey’s Dicta  8. Pollen grains with 1 pore preceded those with 2 or more pores.  9. Axile placentation preceded free central placentation.  10. Single fruits preceded aggregate fruits formed from several ovaries.

11. Bessey’s Dicta  8. Pollen grains with 1 pore preceded those with 1 or more pores.  9. Axile placentation preceded free central placentation.  10. Single fruits preceded aggregate fruits formed from several ovaries.  11. The capsule preceded the drupe or berry.