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Melanthiaceae

(Family)

Overview

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Melanthiaceae is a family of flowering perennial herbs in the Northern Hemisphere.1] The family has been recognized by relatively few taxonomists, and the circumscription has varied. Early authors considered these plants to belong to the family Liliaceae, in part because both their sepals and petals closely resemble each other and are often large and showy like the flowers of the Lily Family.,[1] while some more recent taxonomists have placed them in a family Trilliaceae. The most authoritative modern treatment, however, the APG II system, of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, of 1998), does recognize such a family and places it in the order Liliales, in the clade monocots. As circumscribed by APG II it includes 11-16 genera of the plants that sometimes have been treated as family .

Familiar members of the family include Paris herb (Paris quadrifolia) and the trilliums.

Birth defects in sheep grazing on Veratrum californicum provided key insights into developmental biology in the 20th century
Trilliums (here Trillium cernuum) are fairly common woodland spring ephemerals in temperate North America and Asia

Genera

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b>Melanthiaceae is a family of flowering perennial herbs in the Northern Hemisphere.1] The family has been recognized by relatively few taxonomists, and the circumscription has varied. Early authors considered these plants to belong to the family Liliaceae, in part because both their sepals and petals closely resemble each other and are often large and showy like the flowers of the Lily Family.,[1] while some more recent taxonomists have placed them in a family Trilliaceae. The most authoritative modern treatment, however, the APG II system, of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, of 1998), does recognize such a family and places it in the order Liliales, in the clade monocots. As circumscribed by APG II it includes 11-16 genera of the plants that sometimes have been treated as family .

Familiar members of the family include Paris herb (Paris quadrifolia) and the trilliums.

Birth defects in sheep grazing on Veratrum californicum provided key insights into developmental biology in the 20th century
Trilliums (here Trillium cernuum) are fairly common woodland spring ephemerals in temperate North America and Asia

Genera

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References

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  1. ^ a b Zomlefer, WB; NH Williams, WM Whitten, WS Judd (2001). "Generic circumscriptions and relationships in the tribe Melanthieae (Liliales, Melanthiaceae), with emphasis on Zigadenus: Evidence from ITS and TRNL-F sequence date". American Journal of Botany (Botanical Society of America) 88 (9): 1657?1669. doi:10.2307/3558411. JSTOR 3 558411. PMID 21669700. 

External links

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Taxonomy

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The Family Melanthiaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abalon

[more]

Abama

Narthecium is the botanical name of a genus of flowering plants. This genus was traditionally treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae, but the APG II system of 2003 placed it in the family Nartheciaceae. [more]

Acelidanthus

[more]

Amianthium

Amianthium is a monotypic genus of perennial plants growing from bulbs. It contains the single species Amianthium muscitoxicum, known in English as fly poison from a literal translation of the Latin muscitoxicum, and is noted for its pretty flowers and its toxic alkaloid content. While all parts of the plant are poisonous, the bulb is particularly toxic. The scientific name was given to it by Thomas Walter when he published his Flora Caroliniana in 1788. [more]

Amianthum

[more]

Anepsa

[more]

Anticlea

In Greek mythology, Anticlea (??t???e?a) was the daughter of Autolycus and Amphithea and mother of Odysseus by La?rtes (though some say by Sisyphus). She was also the granddaughter of the trickster god Hermes (who was the father of her father, Autolycus)Tiresias. In the underworld, Odysseus encounters many spirits, including that of his mother, Anticlea. Initially, he rebuffs her since he is waiting for the prophet to approach. After speaking with Tiresias, however, Odysseus allows his mother to come near and lets her speak. She asks him why he is in the underworld while alive, and he tells her about his various troubles and futile attempts to get home. Then he asks her how she died and inquires about his family at home. She tells him that she died of grief, longing for him while he was at war. Anticlea also says that La?rtes (Odysseus' father) "grieves continually" for Odysseus and lives in a hovel in the countryside, clad in rags and sleeping on the floor. Anticlea further describes the condition of Odysseus' wife Penelope and son Telemachus. Penelope has not yet remarried but is overwhelmed with sadness and longing for her husband while Telemachus acts as magistrate for Odysseus' properties. Odysseus attempts to embrace his mother three times but discovers that she is incorporeal, and his arms simply pass through her. She explains that this is how all ghosts are, and he expresses great sorrow. [more]

Asagraea

[more]

Asphodeliris

[more]

Chamaelirium

Herbs, perennial, from stout, nodose rhizomes; roots contractile, fibrous, fleshy. Stems persistent in pistillate plants, erect to nodding, simple, hollow, glabrous. Leaves persistent, evergreen, crowded in basal rosettes, reduced distally; blades glabrous, margins entire to minutely undulate; basal blades petiolate, spatulate to oblanceolate; cauline blades sessile, linear to lanceolate. Inflorescences terminal, ebracteate; in staminate plants racemose, rarely spiciform, 7-15 cm, apex nodding; in pistillate plants racemose or spiciform, to 35 cm in fruit. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants, occasionally bisexual, ebracteate, weakly syncarpous; tepals persistent, 6, spreading or ascending, distinct, white to greenish white, becoming yellow, 1-veined, narrowly linear-spatulate, nectaries absent; stamens 6; filaments distinct, flattened, unequal; anthers basifixed, 2-locular, oblong-oblanceolate, extrorse; ovary superior, 3-locular, deeply 3-lobed; septal glands absent; styles persistent, 3, recurved, distinct, linear-clavate; stigmas papillate along adaxial surface. Fruits capsular, erect, 3-locular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 2-4 per locule, elliptic to linear-oblong, with broad, winglike aril. x = 12.[1] [more]

Chionographis

Herbs perennial, often hermaphroditic or andropolygamous, sometimes gynodioecious, rarely androdioecious, with a short, stout rhizome, glabrous. Leaves basal, rosulate, petiolate, spatulate to ellipitic, evergreen, margin entire or minutely undulate. Scape arising from center of leaf rosette, erect, simple, with 3--30 small, bractlike leaves. Inflorescence a terminal spike, many flowered; bract absent. Flowers sessile, zygomorphic, small. Tepals free; upper 3 or 4 spatulate-linear to filiform; lower 2 or 3 much shorter or absent. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals, rather short; anthers basifixed, subcordate-ovate to subglobose, extrorse, with locules confluent or free. Ovary globose, 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule. Styles 3, stigmatic adaxially. Fruit a capsule, ?septicidal. Seeds fusiform, winged at 1 end.[2] [more]

Chrosperma

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Crosperma

[more]

Cymba

[more]

Dasurus

[more]

Diclinotrys

[more]

Endocles

[more]

Ennearina

[more]

Evonyxis

[more]

Gomphostylis

[more]

Hebelia

[more]

Helonias

Herbs, perennial, subscapose, glabrous, from stout rhizomes; roots contractile, fibrous. Stems erect, simple, hollow, glabrous. Leaves evergreen, in basal rosettes, reduced distally to bractlike leaves; blade simple, oblong-spatulate to oblanceolate, margins entire, apex acute, glabrous. Inflorescences terminal, racemose, dense, ebracteate, pedicellate. Flowers spreading, fragrant, funnel-shaped; tepals persistent, 6, distinct to barely connate basally, purplish pink, becoming green, spatulate to oblong, nectary proximal, adaxial, weakly sulcate; stamens persistent, 6, equaling tepals; filaments distinct, inner 3 proximally adnate to ovary; anthers dorsifixed, versatile, 1-locular, extrorse, pollen sacs apically confluent; ovary superior, 3-locular proximally, 1-locular distally; septal nectaries absent; styles 3, depressed apically into ovary apex, ascending to arching, distinct, sessile; stigmas not papillate along adaxial surface. Fruits capsular, deeply 3-lobed, papery, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 16 per locule, linear-fusiform, caudate at both ends. x = 17.[3] [more]

Heloniopsis

Herbs perennial, with a short, thickened rhizome, glabrous. Leaves basal, rosulate, narrowly oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, proximally gradually narrowed to a petiole, evergreen, margin smooth, sometimes minutely undulate. Scape arising from center of leaf rosette, erect, simple, hollow, with 2--8 scale leaves. Inflorescence a terminal umbel or umbel-like raceme, 1--10-flowered; bract usually absent. Flowers bisexual, usually slightly nodding at anthesis, ascending in fruit, spreading funnelform. Tepals 6, free, spatulate or linear-oblanceolate to oblong, adaxially often with a deep pocket of a nectary gland at base, persistent. Stamens 6, often adnate basally to tepals, sometimes free, always free from ovary, usually exserted, rarely included; anthers lanceolate, dorsifixed, extrorse to latrorse, sometimes with locules confluent at apex. Ovary superior, 3-loculed; ovules 60--180 per locule. Style 1, slender, rather long; stigma capitate. Fruit a capsule, 3-lobed, loculicidal. Seeds small, linear, both ends caudate.[4] [more]

Heriteria

[more]

Hexonix

[more]

Leimanthium

[more]

Melanthium

Herbs, perennial, subscapose, from erect, tunicate bulbs with short, vertical rhizomes; fibrils persistent, brown, stiff; roots contractile, fleshy. Stems erect, simple, leafy, hollow, basally thickened. Leaves basal, simple, reduced upwards, bases sheathing; blade linear, oblanceolate, elliptic to obovate, rarely plicate, glabrous, basally canaliculate, apex tapered to acute; sheaths tubular, closed. Inflorescences terminal, compound-racemose to open-paniculate, flexible, axes floccose; bracts clasping, linear to subulate. Flowers of distal racemes bisexual, progressively smaller distally, proximal flowers staminate; tepals persistent, 6, spreading, distinct to weakly connate basally, slightly adnate to ovary base, petaloid, gradually to abruptly narrowed into claws or claws absent, subequal, margin entire or undulate, apex acute to obtuse; perigonal nectaries obscure to very prominent, 2 per tepal, adaxially basal on either side of midvein; stamens 6, adnate to tepal bases; filaments strongly incurving; anthers basifixed, 1-locular, cordate-reniform; pollen sacs fugacious, confluent, dehiscence apical/valvate; ovary superior to partly inferior, nearly distinct, 3-locular; sepal nectaries absent; styles persistent, 3, spreading to recurved, turning inwards with age, distinct; stigmas minute; pedicel pubescent. Fruits capsular, deeply 3-lobed, dehiscence septicidal, then adaxially loculicidal; styles persistent, 3, beaklike. Seeds pale yellow to tan, broadly winged, flat, elliptic to lanceolate. x = 8.[5] [more]

Oceanorus

[more]

Paris

Herbs perennial. Rhizome slender or thickened. Stem erect, simple. Leaves 4 to many, very rarely 3, in a terminal whorl, petiolate, lanceolate to ovate, with 3 main veins and anastomosing veinlets. Flowers bisexual, solitary, terminal, pedunculate. Tepals 3--8, in 2 whorls, free; outer ones green, rarely white, ovate to lanceolate; inner ones linear or occasionally absent. Stamens 8--24 or more, 2--8 × as many as tepals; filaments narrow, flat; anthers basifixed, often with convex connective apically. Ovary subglobose, 1-loculed with parietal placentation or 4--10-loculed with axile placentation. Style short; stigma lobes 4--10. Fruit a berry or a berrylike capsule, indehiscent or loculicidal, several to many seeded.[6] [more]

Schoenocaulon

Herbs, perennial, scapose, from tunicate bulb-rhizomes. Leaves narrow, grasslike, emerging conduplicate from neck of fibrous tunic. Inflorescences racemose, simple; racemes spikelike, flowers subtended by a persistent, membranous bract; distalmost bracts empty or concealing rudimentary flowers. Flowers: proximalmost bisexual, distalmost functionally staminate; tepals withering-persistent, 6, distinct, equal, leathery to slightly petaloid, yellowish green, green, or greenish purple, not clawed, linear-lanceolate to ovate, margins entire to crenulate or minutely denticulate; hyaline basal auricle sometimes present; perigonal nectaries not well developed; stamens 6, distinct; filaments withering-persistent, subulate or rarely distally dilated, 1.5-2.5 times tepal length; anthers basifixed, narrowly sagittate before dehiscence, explanate after, extrose; ovary superior, 3-locular, locules barely cohesive to connate; styles persistent, 3, distinct. Fruits capsular, 1-3-locular, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds 1-8 per locule, ellipsoid to ovoid or conic, irregularly compressed or angled by mutual pressure. x = 8.[7] [more]

Stenanthella

[more]

Stenanthium

Herbs, perennial, from tunicate bulbs and reduced rhizomes; roots fibrous. Stems simple, mostly with 2-3 reduced bracts, glabrous. Leaves mostly basal, reduced distally, spiral, arching downward, sheathing proximally; blade narrowly linear to oblanceolate, strap-shaped, glabrous, apex acuminate or obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, racemose or paniculate, open, bracteate, glabrous. Flowers: proximalmost usually bisexual, distalmost staminate; perianth tubular-campanulate or rotate; tepals persistent, 6, distinct or weakly connate basally, glandular or not, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, equal to subequal, apex acute to acuminate; claws absent; tepal glands, when present, 2-lobed, adaxial; stamens 6, distinct or connate basally, equal or subequal; filaments lanceolate; anthers basifixed, 1-locular, obcordate-reniform; pollen sacs apically confluent, extrorse, opening into peltate disc; ovary superior to half-inferior, 3-locular proximally, 1-locular distal to ovules; septal nectaries absent; styles persistent, 3, spreading to recurved, distinct; stigmas minute. Fruits capsular, deeply 3-lobed, membranous, slenderly 3-beaked, dehiscence septicidal, then adaxially loculicidal. Seeds 3-4 per locule, brown to brownish black, narrowly oblong or ellipsoid to lanceoloid, flat, angled to winged. x = 8, 10.[8] [more]

Toxicoscordion

[more]

Tracyanthus

[more]

Trillium

Trillium is a genus of about 40-50 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia. They used to be treated in the family Trilliaceae or Trillium family, a part of the Liliales or Lily order. The AGP II treats Trilliaceae as a synonym of the family Melanthiaceae. Common names include trillium, wakerobin, and birthroot. The above ground parts of Trilliums are scapes with three large, leafy bracts with the true leaves underground as a papery covering around the rhizomes. [more]

Veratrum

Veratrum is a genus of coarse poisonous perennial herbs of the Melanthiaceae family. In English they are usually known as the False hellebores. Members of Veratrum are known both in western herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine as toxic herbs to be used with great caution. It is one of the medicinals {"Li lu") cited in Chinese herbal texts as incompatible with many other common herbs because of its potentiating effects. [more]

Xerophyllum

Xerophyllum is the name of two genera [more]

Ypsilandra

Herbs perennial, with a short, thickened, slightly fleshy rhizome, glabrous. Leaves basal, rosulate, linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, or spatulate, basally gradually narrowed to a petiole. Scape arising from axils of lateral leaves, erect, simple, with several to many scaly leaves. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, 2--30-flowered; bract absent. Flowers bisexual, usually nodding at anthesis, ascending in fruit, spreading funnelform. Tepals 6, free, with a nectary gland basally on adaxial side, persistent. Stamens 6, rather long, free from tepals, inner ones basally adnate to ovary, outer ones free; anthers usually reniform, basifixed, with confluent locules. Ovary superior, 3-lobed, 3-loculed; ovules many per locule. Style 1, very short to long; stigma capitate to 3-cleft. Fruit a capsule, trigonous, 3-lobed apically, loculicidal. Seeds numerous, narrowly fusiform, both ends caudate.[9] [more]

Zigadenus

The Deathcamases or Star Lilies are the genus Zigadenus of flowering plants. Placed by older authors in the family Liliaceae, they are now regarded by modern taxonomy (for example the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) as members of the family Melanthiaceae. [more]

At least 78 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zigadenus.

More info about the Genus Zigadenus may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ a b Zomlefer, WB; NH Williams, WM Whitten, WS Judd (2001). "Generic circumscriptions and relationships in the tribe Melanthieae (Liliales, Melanthiaceae), with emphasis on Zigadenus: Evidence from ITS and TRNL-F sequence date". American Journal of Botany (Botanical Society of America) 88 (9): 1657?1669. doi:10.2307/3558411. JSTOR 3558411. PMID 21669700. 

External links

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Bibliography

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Footnotes

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  1. Frederick H. Utech "Chamaelirium". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 56, 68, 69. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  2. Chen Sing-chi, Minoru N. Tamura "Chionographis". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 88. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  3. Frederick H. Utech "Helonias". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 56, 69. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  4. Chen Sing-chi, Minoru N. Tamura "Heloniopsis". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 87. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  5. Norlyn L. Bodkin & Frederick H. Utech "Melanthium". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 14, 56, 73, 77. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  6. Liang Song-jun, Victor G. Soukup "Paris". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 88. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  7. Dawn Frame "Schoenocaulon". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 56, 79, 80. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  8. Frederick H. Utech "Stenanthium". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 55, 56, 82, 88. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  9. Chen Sing-chi, Minoru N. Tamura "Ypsilandra". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 86. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:35:57