A new tribal classification of Rhamnaceae based on a phylogenetic analysis of rbcL and trnL-F sequences of the plastid genome is outlined here. The last classification of the family by Suessenguth recognised five tribes. Eleven tribes are now recognised, three of which are new (Ampelozizipheae, Doerpfeldieae and Bathiorhamneae). The constitution of Rhamneae Hook. f. has been emended, and the name of one tribe has been corrected (Zizipheae Brongn. to Paliureae Reissek ex Endl.; as suggested by Schirarend and Olabi 1994) and emended. Ventilagineae Hook. f., Colletieae Reissek ex Endl. and Gouanieae Reissek ex Endl. are retained. Pomaderreae Reissek ex Endl. and Maesopsideae Weberb. have been resurrected, as has Phyliceae Reissek ex Endl., which has also been emended. Three larger groups within Rhamnaceae are also described on the basis of the molecular data. However, there are no morphological characters marking these groups, and they are therefore given informal names in this treatment. A morphological cladistic analysis also included here demonstrates the problems of attempting phylogenetic reconstruction if only a few morphological characters are available.