We present the best sampled phylogenetic analysis of Celastrales, with respect to both character and taxon sampling, and use it to present a natural classification of the order.  Parnassiaceae are highly supported as sister to Celastraceae; we recognize both families as distinct. Pottingeria is highly supported as a member of an early derived lineage within Celastraceae.  We recognize and circumscribe 13 subfamilies in Celastraceae, including the new subfamilies Crossopetaloideae, Maytenoideae, Microtropioideae, Monimopetaloideae, and Salaciopsioideae. We identified five genera that likely require generic recircumscriptions: Cassine, Elachyptera, Gymnosporia, Salacia, and Semialarium.  Genera that had not been previously sampled in Sanger-sequence-based studies are resolved as follows: Arnicratea is sister to Reissantia, Bequaertia is in a clade with Campylostemon and Tristemonanthus, Goniodiscus is sister to Wilczekra, Ptelidium is nested within Elaeodendron, and Tetrasiphon is most closely related to Gyminda.

Morphological, genomic, and Sanger-sequence characters for Celastrales, Oxalidales, and Malpighiales were analyzed using non-parametric phylogenetic methods.

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