This is a translation of the second edition. It has been completely updated and sup-plemented, and enhanced by the contribution of a new author. Also included is a CD-Rom with 351 colour photographs, summary tables on useful plants, and keys to identification.The principle objective of this book is to describe a range of families of flowering plants in a sequence corresponding to current phylogenetic classification based on the most recent results of molecular systematics. The selection of families is large and comprises families of temperate European flora as well as tropical flora. They are integrated in their respective orders and keys are given to help the reader recognize them. Each family is richly illustrated, the identifying characters being shown as clearly as possible. A glossary complements the overall didactic qualities of this reference. This book is designed for the use of university students of biology, pharmacy, or en-vironmental sciences as well as for any botanical researcher interested in the adop-tion of a new perspective on classification.