The still older Cronquist system of 1981, which was not based on molecular data, placed the order in subclass Commelinidae of class Liliopsida and included the families Commelinaceae, Mayacaceae, Rapateaceae and Xyridaceae.
The Cronquist system, of 1981, also recognized such a family and placed it in the order Typhales in the subclass Commelinidae in class Liliopsida in division Magnoliophyta.