The
basal angiosperms are the
flowering plants which diverged from the lineage leading to most flowering plants. In particular, the most
basal angiosperms were called the
ANITA grade which is made up of
Amborella (a single species of shrub from New Caledonia),
Nymphaeales (water lilies, together with some other aquatic plants) and
Austrobaileyales (woody aromatic plants including star anise). ANITA stands for
Amborella,
Nymphaeales and
Illiciales,
Trimeniaceae-
Austrobaileya. Some authors have shortened this to ANA-grade for the three orders,
Amborellales,
Nymphaeales, and
Austrobaileyales, as the order Illiciales was reduced to the family
Illiciaceae and placed, along with the family Trimeniaceae, within the Austrobaileyales.