Overview
Asparagaceae is the of a family of flowering plants. Such a family has been recognized by quite a few taxonomists, but hardly universally: often the plants involved are treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae.
The APG II system, of 2003 also recognizes this family and places it in the order Asparagales, in the clade monocots. APG II allows two options as to circumscription of the family:
- Asparagaceae sensu lato ("in the wider sense"), that is including all the plants listed in the second option.
- Asparagaceae sensu stricto ("in the strict sense"), consisting of very few genera (notably Asparagus, also Hemiphylacus), but nevertheless totalling a few hundred species. This circumscription assumes that the following are recognized as separate:
These families were also recognized in the APG system, of 1998, except families Hesperocallidaceae and Ruscaceae which are 'new'. Relatively few publications have adopted the APG II's broader circumscription of Asparagaceae, with most adopting the narrower circumscription and recognizing the segregate families.
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Asparagaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Genus (37): Albuca · Asparagopsis · Asparagus · Beschorneria · Bowiea · Brodiaea · Camassia · Chlorophytum · Dichelostemma · Drimiopsis · Elachanthera · Elide · Eriospermum · Eucomis · Hastingsia · Hesperoyucca · Hyacinthoides · Hyacinthus · Lachenalia · Laxmannia · Leopoldia · Maianthemum · Massonia · Muscari · Myrsiphyllum · Ornithogalum · Peliosanthes · Polygonatum · Protasparagus · Pseudomuscari · Resnova · Rohdea · Sansevieria · Scilla · Thysanotus · Triteleia · Tupistra
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 376 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in the Family Asparagaceae.
Genera
Albuca
Asparagopsis
Asparagus
Herbs, shrubs, or vines, perennial, from rhizomes, usually with fusiform tubers, often with fernlike appearance. Stems photosynthetic, erect, spreading or climbing, branched; cladophylls solitary or fasciculate, in nodes of reduced, scarious leaves. Leaves small, scale-like, membranous, or sometimes spiny with hardened base, subtending cladophylls. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, racemose, or umbellate, paired or solitary; racemes short. Flowers bisexual or unisexual; perianth greenish, white, or yellowish, campanulate to rotate; tepals 6, distinct or shortly connate basally, equal; stamens 6, distinct, equal; anthers versatile, 2-locular, dehiscence introrse; ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present; style 3-branched distally; pedicel with conspicuous joint. Fruits baccate, red or purplish black, globose, often with tepals persisting at base. Seeds 1-6, black, globose to angular. x = 10.[1] [more]
Beschorneria
Beschorneria is a of succulent plants belonging to the family Agavaceae and native to Mexico. [more]
Bowiea
Brodiaea
Herbs, perennial, scapose, from fibrous-coated corms. Leaves 1-6, basal; blade linear, crescent-shaped in cross section. Scape solitary, cylindrical, usually slender, occasionally stout, rigid. Inflorescences umbellate, open, bracteate; bracts scarious, not enclosing flower buds. Flowers: perianth 6-tepaled, distinctly connate proximally into tube, shiny, abaxial perianth usually bluish purple, tube narrowly campanulate or funnelform, outer 3 lobes narrower than inner 3; stamens 3, epitepalous, opposite inner perianth lobes, alternating with 3 staminodia (staminodia absent in B. orcuttii) opposite outer perianth lobes; filaments adnate to perianth tube, linear, base sometimes dilated to form triangular flap, or sometimes with abaxial wings or appendages; anthers basifixed, appressed to style; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary superior, green (purple in B. jolonensis), sessile, 3-locular, ovules several; style erect; stigma 3-lobed, lobes distinctly spreading and recurved; pedicel erect, articulate at base. Fruits capsular, ovoid, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, rounded to flattened, coat with crust with longitudinal surface striations. x = 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20, or 24.[2] [more]
Camassia
Herbs, perennial, from bulbs. Bulbs solitary or clustered, tunicate, ovoid to globose; tunic black or brown. Leaves basal, appearing whorled; blade linear, keeled. Inflorescences appearing terminal, racemose, bracteate; bracts sterile or subtending flowers, narrowly lanceolate. Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic; tepals 6, persistent, ± equal in 2 whorls of 3, distinct, violet, blue, or white, each 3-9-veined, lanceolate, ± twisted in drying; stamens 6; filaments inserted on receptacles at base of tepals, slender; anthers versatile, dehiscence introrse; ovary 3-locular, septal nectaries present, ovules 6-36; style filiform; stigma 3-lobed; pedicel spreading to incurving-erect in fruit. Fruits capsular, ovoid to ellipsoid or subglobose, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 6-36, lustrous black, obpyriform to ovoid-ellipsoid, 2-4 mm. x = 15.[3] [more]
Chlorophytum
Herbs perennial, rhizomatous. Rhizome often short, inconspicuous, sometimes thick, elongate. Roots usually ± thick or slightly fleshy. Leaves basal, subdistichous or fasciculate, sessile or petiolate, usually linear to elliptic-lanceolate, conduplicate, base sheathing. Scape axillary, proximally with bractlike cauline leaves. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or panicle; bracts small. Flowers bisexual; pedicel articulate. Perianth usually white; tepals 6, free, 3--7-veined, persistent or marcescent. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments filiform, usually slightly widened near middle; anthers nearly basifixed, introrse. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 1 to several per locule. Style slender; stigma small. Fruit a capsule, acutely 3-angled, loculicidal. Seeds black coated, flattened.[4] [more]
Dichelostemma
Herbs, perennial, scapose, from fibrous-coated corms. Leaves 1-5, basal; blade narrowly lanceolate, usually keeled and channeled, margins entire. Scape solitary, usually weak, curved to twining, cylindrical, smooth to scabrous. Inflorescences umbellate or racemose, usually dense, 2-20-flowered, bracteate; bracts 2-4, ± papery, not enclosing flower buds. Flowers: perianth 6-tepaled, distinctly connate proximally into tube, tube cylindrical, ovoid, or campanulate, occasionally globose or urceolate, soft, limb lobes similar; perianth appendages arising from intersection of perianth tube and limb lobes, leaning toward or away from anthers, forming corona; anthers basifixed, held close to style; stamens 3 (6 in Dichelostemma capitatum), epitepalous; filaments entirely adnate to perianth tube; staminodia absent (except in D. volubile) ; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary superior, sessile or stipitate, 3-locular, ovules several; style 1; stigma weakly 3-lobed; pedicel erect or flexuous, articulate beneath perianth, usually shorter than flowers. Fruits capsular, 3-angled, usually ovoid, firm, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, sharply angled, coat with crust. x = 9 (8 in D. ida-maia).[5] [more]
Drimiopsis
Elachanthera
Elide
Elision is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a , a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase, producing a result that is easier for the speaker to pronounce. Sometimes, sounds may be elided for euphonic effect. [more]
Eriospermum
Eriospermum are a group of tuberous plants from . The family is Ruscaceae. "Eriospermum" is from the Greek erion for "wool" and sperma for "seed". [more]
Eucomis
Hastingsia
Herbs, perennial, scapose, glabrous, from bulbs. Bulb solitary, ovoid to ellipsoid, fleshy, with densely packed lunate scales, vein remnants sometimes persisting as blackish, fibrous tunics; no rootstocks or vertical rhizomes. Leaves predominantly basal, grasslike; blade often prominently keeled or V-shaped; cauline leaves widely spaced, progressively reduced distally, intergrading with floral bracts. Scape borne singly, arising from top of bulb, 25-99 cm, sometimes with 1-3(-5) shorter, ascending branches; scape and branches becoming hollow and brittle. Inflorescences racemose, with flowers (10-) 24-65(-78) per 10 cm of raceme. Flowers: perianth at anthesis closed (not exposing stamens) or partially to fully open (partially or fully exposing stamens) ; tepals 6, persistent, withering and shriveling to base, distinct, pure white, yellowish or greenish white, or purplish black, narrowly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, sometimes each with greenish, yellowish, or purplish central vein, 4-12 mm, often with flattened, triangular apex covered adaxially with minute, glandular hairs; stamens 6; filaments dimorphic, 4-8 mm, 3 longer and with dehisced anthers at anthesis, 3 shorter and with undehisced anthers, all becoming equal after anthesis; ovary superior, ± sessile, 3-lobed, globose, ovules 2 per locule; placentation axile; style 1; stigma distinctly 3-lobed; pedicel 2-3 mm. Fruits capsular, broadly 3-lobed, ellipsoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, slightly constricted 1/3 from apex. Seeds gray-green to black or yellowish brown, fusiform, usually flattened adaxially; coat rough, reticulate. x = 26, 27.[6] [more]
Hesperoyucca
Plants simple or cespitose, erect, acaulescent, scapose, rosulate, monocarpic or polycarpic; rosettes solitary or in colonies. Leaf blades linear, rarely narrowly lanceolate, widest at base, tapering to apex, glaucous, somewhat flexible when young, rigid at maturity, margins pale yellow, mostly denticulate, corneous, apex distinctly spinose. Scape well developed, extending beyond rosettes, usually more than 2.5 cm in diam., glabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, cylindrical, bracteate, glabrous; rachis and peduncle reddish purple; bracts reflexed, deltate, abruptly narrowing to linear, sharp-pointed apex. Flowers bisexual; perianth campanulate or globose; tepals distinct, white or creamy white to greenish or purple-tinged, broadly lanceolate, 3.2-4.5(-6) cm; filaments ca. 1.3 cm, equal to or longer than pistil, papillose; anthers reniform; pistil 1-1.3 × 0.6-1 cm; ovary superior; style white, 2-3 mm; stigmas green, capitate. Fruits erect, capsular, obovoid, 3-5 × 1.5-4 cm, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds many per locule, dull black, thin, flattened, 6-8 mm diam. x = 30.[7] [more]
Hyacinthoides
Herbs, perennial, scapose, from bulbs. Bulb annual, ovoid, composed of few tubular coalescent scales, completely renewed annually. Leaves few, basal. Inflorescences racemose, bracteate; bracts 2 subtending each flower, linear-lanceolate. Flowers: tepals shortly connate basally, each 1-veined, 15- 20 mm; stamens 6; filaments inserted on perianth; anthers dorsifixed, versatile, introrse; ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present, ovules 1-10 per locule; style simple; stigma swollen distally. Fruits capsular, subglobose, 3-lobed, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 3-30, black, globose to ellipsoid, unwinged. x = 8.[8] [more]
Hyacinthus
Hyacinthus can refer to: [more]
Lachenalia
Lachenalia is a of bulbs in the Hyacinthaceae family, which are usually found in Namibia and South Africa. Most of these plants have a dormancy period, and the new roots of these plants will always grow every year. [more]
Laxmannia
Leopoldia
Maianthemum
Herbs, perennial, terrestrial or aquatic, 1-12.5 dm, from rhizomes. Rhizomes persistent, sympodial, spreading and filiform, or densely clumped, cylindrical, and fleshy. Stems simple, arching or erect. Leaves 2-15, cauline, distichous, clasping or short-petiolate; blade usually ovate, glabrous or weakly pubescent, base rounded or cordiform, margins flat or undulate, denticulate or entire, apex acute or caudate. Inflorescences terminally paniculate or racemose, 5-250-flowered. Flowers 3-merous (6 tepals, 6 stamens) or, by reduction, 2-merous (4 tepals, 4 stamens) ; perianth spreading; tepals distinct, white, ovate or triangular, equal, 0.5-5 mm; stamens inserted at tepal base; anthers 4-locular, dehiscence introrse; ovary superior, 2-3-carpellate, septal walls with nectariferous canals; style shorter than 1.5 mm; stigma 2-3-lobed, less than 1 mm wide; pedicel subtended by 1 or more bracts. Fruits baccate, variously mottled when immature, bright red at maturity, usually lobed, 4-12 mm wide, pulp thin. Seeds 1-12, globose, 3-6 mm diam.; testa pale brown, thin; endosperm scaly. x = 18.[9] [more]
Massonia
Massonia is a of ornamental plants in the hyacinth family. There are 6 species in this genus: Massonia angustifolia, Massonia depressa, Massonia echinata, Massonia jasminiflora, Massonia pygmaea. It is classed as a cryptophyte. [more]
Muscari
Herbs perennial, scapose, from brown, tunicate, ovoid bulbs, with or without offsets (bulblets). Leaves (1-) 2-7, basal; blade linear, sometimes sulcate, glabrous, rather fleshy. Scape terete. Inflorescences terminally racemose, many-flowered, dense, bracteate, usually elongating in fruit; distal flowers smaller, sterile, differing in color, forming a tuft (coma) ; bracts minute. Flowers fragrant; perianth tubular to urceolate, usually constricted basally; tepals 6, connate most of their length, distal portions distinct, reflexed, short, toothlike; stamens 6, epitepalous, in 2 rows, included; anthers dark blue, dorsifixed, globose; ovary superior, green, 3-locular, inner sepal nectaries present; style 1; stigma 3-lobed. Fruits capsular, obtusely 3-angled, papery, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 6, black, globose, wrinkled to reticulate. x = 9.[10] [more]
Myrsiphyllum
Ornithogalum
Herbs, perennial, scapose, poisonous, from ovoid, tunicate bulbs; bulb tunics white to pale brown, papery. Leaves few to several, basal; blade linear to lanceolate, margins smooth or hairy. Inflorescences racemose or corymbose, 2-many-flowered, bracteate; bracts white, membranous. Flowers: tepals 6, widely spreading, distinct, equal to slightly unequal; stamens 6, distinct, dimorphic; filaments simple or 3-dentate, flattened; anthers dorsifixed, introrse; ovary superior, green, 3-locular, cylindric to globose, 6-angled, septal nectaries present; style 1; stigma margins entire or indistinctly 3-lobed. Fruits capsular, angled, papery, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds numerous, globose to ovoid. x = 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11.[11] [more]
Peliosanthes
Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, with thick roots. Stem usually short, rarely elongate and procumbent. Leaves usually basal, rarely cauline, petiolate; leaf blade linear to elliptic-ovate, subplicate veined, with conspicuous, transverse veins between main, longitudinal veins, glabrous. Scape terminating in a raceme or reduced panicle.