The Gentianales as circumscribed by Benson, Cronquist, Dahlgren, Goldberg, Hey wood et al., Melchior, Stebbins, Takhtajan, and Thorne is investigated. From these a consensus classification (not in the cladistic sense) or classificatory model for the order is proposed. This classification is discussed, as are the relationships of the taxa within it. Excluded taxa are also discussed. In particular, the Apocynineae is examined in detail and it is pointed out that for this suborder the present consensus classification, at the family level, is congruous only if the taxa involved are monophyletic. Data are then supplied to show that, as yet, neither monophyly nor paraphyly can be proved conclusively for the taxa of the Apocynineae.