EDIT

import eu.etaxonomy.cdm.model.common.CdmBase;

    /**

     *

     * @param caption

     * @param type

     * @return

     */

    public <T extends CdmBase> ListSelect createListSelect(String caption, Class<T> type){

        return createListSelect(caption, type, null);

    }

    public <T extends CdmBase> ListSelect createListSelect(String caption, Class<T> type, List<OrderHint> orderHints){

        if(orderHints == null){

            orderHints = OrderHint.defaultOrderHintsFor(type);

        }

        BeanItemContainer<T> termItemContainer = buildBeanItemContainer(type, orderHints);

        ListSelect select = new ListSelect(caption, termItemContainer);

        // guess property id to use for display

        String propertyId = null;

        if(orderHints != null && !orderHints.isEmpty()){

            propertyId = orderHints.get(0).getPropertyName();

            select.setItemCaptionPropertyId(propertyId);

        }

        return select;

    }

    /**

     * @param termType

     */

    private <T extends CdmBase> BeanItemContainer<T> buildBeanItemContainer(Class<T> type, List<OrderHint> orderHints) {

        List<T> terms = repo.getCommonService().list(type, (Integer)null, (Integer)null,

                orderHints,

                Arrays.asList(new String[]{"$"}));

        BeanItemContainer<T> termItemContainer = new BeanItemContainer<>(type);

        termItemContainer.addAll(terms);

        return termItemContainer;

    }