PBIO 250 Lecture Notes

James L. Reveal

Norton-Brown Herbarium, University of Maryland

Families Placed in Liliaceae by Cronquist

1. Petrosaviaceae Hutch., Fam. Fl. Pl. 2: 36. 1934, nom. cons.
   

   Plants saprophytic, achlorophyllous perennial herbs from thin rhizomes; leaves scalelike and membranous, parallel-veined; stems erect, slender; inflorescences with flowers in loosely arranged racemes; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, few, on slender pedicels, the tepals 6 and free in two whorls, those of the outer whorl narrower than those of the inner whorl, septal nectaries present; stamens 6, in 2 whorls, the anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, semicarpous (fused only at the base), superior with each carpel bearing a stout, slightly recurved style with a subcapitate stigma; fruits dehiscent follicles with several to many winged seeds. - Southeastern Asia, Malaya and Borneo: Petrosavia (3).

2. Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon, Skand. Växtfam.: 64. 1846.
   

   Plants perennial herbs from mostly short rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear, parallel-veined; stems erect, leafy, slender to stoutish, sometimes hollow; inflorescences with flowers in terminal spikes or racemes; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, few to many, on slender pedicels, the tepals 6 and free in two whorls with both whorls similar, petaloid sepals present; stamens 6, in 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, semicarpous (fused basally to approximately half their length) or syncarpous, superior or partially inferior, those apically separate with a free stylodial base or if fused then with 1 style, the stigma subcapitate to capitate; fruits dehiscent follicles or capsules with several to many winged seeds, some seeds with appendages at one or both ends. - Temperate North America and Eurasia, Malaysia and Guayana: Aletris (10), Helonias (1), Heloniopsis (4), Metanarthecium (5), Narthecium (8) and Nietneria (1)

3. Tofieldiaceae Takht., Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 79(12): 65. Jan-Jul 1995.
   

   Plants perennial herbs from slender, creeping rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear, parallel-veined; stems erect and essentially scapose or with 1-few leaves, slender; inflorescences with flowers in (usually) dense racemes; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, few to many, on slender pedicles, the tepals 6 and free in two whorls with both whorls similar, nectaries lacking or sepaloid (Tofieldia); stamens 6 and in 2 whorls of 3s or (in Pleea) 9 or 12 and in 2 whorls of 6+3 or 6+6, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, semicarpous (fused basally in Harperocallis or nearly to the apex in Tofieldia) or syncarpous, superior, those apically separate with a free stylodial base, the styles 3 with a capitate stigma; fruits dehiscent follicles or capsules with numerous, usually winged seeds. - Temperate and arctic regions of North America and Eurasia: Harperocallis (1), Isidrogalvia (5), Pleea (1) and Tofieldia (10).

4. Chionographidaceae (Nakai) Takht., Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 81(2): 85. Mai-Jun 1996.
   

   Plants monoecious or dioecious perennial herbs from short, stout rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear, parallel-veined; stems erect, leafy, slender; inflorescences with flowers in terminal raceme; flowers small, bisexual or unisexual, regular or irregular and zygomorphic, 3-merous, few, on slender pedicles, the tepals 6 and free in 2 whorls, similar (Chamaelirium) or 3 or 4 reflexed and much reduced compared to the 2 or 3 upper tepals (Chionographis); stamens 6, free, in two whorls, the anthers WHAT, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior with 3 distinct, slender styles bearing style-like stigmas; fruits dry capsules with several winged seeds. - Temperate Japan and eastern North America: Chamaelirium (1) and Chionographis (2).

5. Xerophyllaceae Takht., Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 81(2): 86. Mai-Jun 1996.
   

   Plants stout monocarpic perennial herbs from large, caudex-like rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear, tough and wiry, parallel-veined; stems erect, stout, produced only after several years of existence from the persistent cluster of basal leaves, densely clothed with shorter but otherwise similar leaves; inflorescences with flowers in a dense terminal raceme; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, numerous, on slender to stoutish pedicels, the tepals 6 and free in two whorls with both whorls similar, glandless and clawless; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior with 3 distinct, elongate and persistent styles; fruits dry capsules with 2(3) non-winged seeds. - Temperate North America: Xerophyllum (2).

6. Melanthiaceae Batsch, Tab. Affin. Regni Veg.: 133. 2 Mai 1802, nom. cons.

   Plants medium to large perennial herbs from bulb-like bases or short, thick rhizomes; leaves variable, graminoid to laminar, linear to broadly ovate, parallel-veined; stems erect, stout; inflorescences with flowers in spikes, racemes or panicles, these occasionally compoundly so; flowers small, regular, perfect or unisexual, sometimes polygamous, 3-merous, often numerous, on slender to stout pedicels, the tepals 6 and free in 2 whorls with both whorls similar, with or without glands, occasionally clawed; stamens 6, free in 2 whorls, occasionally adnate to the claw, the anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, distinctly cordate to reniform, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior or nearly so (tepals fused to the ovary in Stenanthium) with 3 short styles bearing a minute to small stigma; fruits dry capsules with a few, winged seeds. - Widespread in Eurasia, North America and mountains of South America: Amianthium (1), Melanthium (5), Schoenocaulon (10), Stenanthium (5), Veratrum (45), Ypsilandra (5) and Zigadenus (15).

7. Campynemataceae Dumort., Anal. Fam. Pl.: 57, 58. 1829
   

   Plants small perennial herbs from rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems slender, erect; inflorescences with flowers solitary or in panicles or umbels; flowers small, regular, 6-merous, the tepals 6, free in 2 whorls with both whorls similar; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 1 or 3-carpelled and 1 or 3 locular and syncarpous, inferior, with 1 style; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent capsules with many wingless seeds. - Tasmania and New Caledonia; 2 genera and 3 sp.: Campynema (1) and Campynemanthe (2).
   

8. Colchicaceae DC. in J.B.A.P.M. de Lamarck & A.P. de Candolle, Fl. Franç., ed. 3, 3: 192. 17 Sep 1805, nom. cons.
   

   Plants perennial herbs from corms or rhizomes; leaves graminoid and linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems erect, not easily breaking at nodes; inforescences with flowers solitary or few to several in racemes, cymes or umbels; flowers small to large, regular, 3-merous, the tepals 6 (rarely 8) and free or fused in 1 or 2 whorls with both whorls similar; stamens 6, usually free but occasionally fused, mostly in two whorls (rarely 1), the anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3(-4)-carpelled and 3(-4)-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 or 3 free or slightly fused styles on free stylodia; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent capsules with few to many wingless seeds; x=11. - Temperate to tropical regions in the Old World, chiefly in southern Africa; 15 genera and some 190 sp.: Androcymbium (30), Baeometra (1), Bulbocodium (2), Camptorrhiza (4), Colchicum (65), Gloriosa (1), Hexacyrtis (1), Iphigenia (17), Littonia (7), Merendera (10), Neodregea (1), Onixotis (2), Ornithoglossum (8), Sandersonia (1) and Wurmbea (40).
   

9. Scoliopaceae Takht., Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 81(2): 86. Mai-Jun 1996.
   

   Plants perennial herbs from short rhizomes; leaves laminar, oblanceolate to elliptic, parallel-veined; stems erect; inflorescences with 1-4 flowers on long pedicels arranged in a nearly sessile umbel; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, fetid, the tepals 6 and free in 2 distinctly dissimilar whorls, those of the outer whorl broad and spreading to recurved, those of the inner whorl linear and erect or arching over the pistil; stamens 3, free, in a single whorl opposite the sepals, the anthers versifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, 3-lobed, syncarpous, superior, with 3 styles connate about half their length; fruits thin-walled capsules with several to many seeds, the slender pedicel bending downward with the fruit ultimately resting on the ground. - Western North America: Scoliopus (2).
   

10. Calochortaceae Dumort., Anal. Fam. Pl.: 53. 1829.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from deep-seated bulbs; leaves graminoid, linear, parallel-veined; stems erect or nearly so; inflorescences solitary or few in an umbel; flowers large, regular, 3-merous, erect or nodding, the tepals 6 and essentially free (adhering slightly at the base in some) in 2 distinctly dissimilar whorls, those of the outer whorl narrow, green and sepaloid, those of the inner whorl broad, colored and petaloid with a large, hairy gland near the base of each; stamens 6, free and in 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, distinctly 3-angled or even winged, syncarpous, superior, with a single persistent trifid style; fruits dry capsules with many seeds, remaining erect or nodding well above the ground; x=7-10. - Western North America: Calochortus (60).
    

11. Alstroemeriaceae Dumort., Anal. Fam. Pl.: 57, 58. 1829, nom. cons.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from rhizomes or water-storage tubers; leaves generally inverted, the blade graminoid, linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems erect or nearly so and self-supporting or twining as a climber, not easily breaking at nodes; inflorescences with flowers in cymes (and often a helicoid cyme) or in umbels, rarely solitary; flowers medium-sized, regular to slightly irregular or sometimes slightly zygomorphic, 3-merous, the tepals 6 and mostly free with 2 similar whorls or sometimes in 2 distinctly dissimilar whorls with those of the outer whorl shorter and often of a different color and occasionally sepaloid; stamens 6, free and in 2 whorls, the anthers seemingly basifixed or dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 1 or 3-carpelled and 1 or 3-locular and syncarpous, superior, with 1 trifid style; fruits fleshy or non-fleshy, dehiscent (sometimes explosively) or indehiscent capsules or berries with many seeds; x=8, 9. - West Indies, Central and South America; 4 genera and perhaps 200 sp.: Alstroemeria (50), Bomarea (150), Leontochir (1) and Schickendantzia (2).
    

12. Trilliaceae Lindl., 1846, Veg. Kingd.: 218. Jan-Mar 1846, nom. cons.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from mostly short and stout rhizomes; leaves borne in a single whorl along the upright, slender stem, the blade laminar and lanceolate or elliptic to rotund, often with a well-defined petiole, seemingly net-veined; stems erect, not easily breaking at nodes; inflorescences with flowers solitary; flowers mostly large, regular, 3-5 (-8) -merous, the tepals 6-18 and free in 2 distinctly dissimilar whorls, those of the outer whorl mostly narrower, green and usually sepaloid, those of the inner whorl linear or broad, colored and petaloid, glandless; stamens 6-10 (-16), the anthers basifixed, sometimes appendiculated by a prolonged connective, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-6 (-8) -carpelled and 1 or 3-6 (-8) -locular, 3-lobed, angled or even winged, syncarpous, superior, with 3-6 (-8) free or somewhat connate, usually elongate styles; fruits berries with many seeds. - Temperate North America and Eurasia; 4 genera and some 60 sp.: Daiswa (15), Kinugasa (1), Paris (5) and Trillium (40).
    

13. Liliaceae Juss., Gen. Pl.: 48. 4 Aug 1789, nom. cons.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from bulbs; leaves graminoid and linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems erect, not easily breaking at nodes; inflorescences with flowers solitary or numerous and arranged in racemes, umbels or panicles; flowers mostly large, regular to slightly irregular or somewhat zygomorphic, 3-merous, the tepals 6 and free in 2 whorls with both whorls similar or the tepals of the outer whorl smaller and less showy; stamens 6, the anthers essentially basifixed or dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 or more commonly 3 styles; fruits non-fleshy, dehiscent capsules with numerous wingless seeds; x=12. - Northern hemisphere and in particular Asia; 10 genera and perhaps 550 sp.: Cardiocrinum (3), Erythronium (24), Fritillaria (75), Gagea (200), Korolkowia (1), Lilium (100), Lloydia (20), Nomocharis (16), Notholirion (6), Tulipa (100).
    

14. Medeolaceae (S. Wats.) Takht., Sist. Magnoliof.: 291. 31 Mar-1 Jun 1987.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from succulent, cucumber-flavored rhizomes; leaves graminoid and narrowly oblanceolate, parallel-veined, in 2 whorls mostly 3-11 leaves on the stem; stems erect, not easily breaking at nodes; inflorescences with flowers in 3-9-flowered umbels on spreading to deflexed pedicels; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, the tepals 6 and free in 2 whorls with both whorls essentially similar; stamens 6, the anthers versatile, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 3 styles; fruits fleshy globose berries with few wingless seeds. - Eastern North America: Medeola (1).
    

15. Ixioliriaceae (Pax) Nakai, Chosakuronbun Mokuroku: 234. 20 Jul 1943.
    

    Plants perennial herbs from corms; leaves graminoid and linear to lanceolate, parallal-veined; stems erect; inflorescences of few flowered panicles; flowers medium-sized, 3-merous, regular, the tepals 6 and free in 2 whorls with both whorls essentially similar; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, inferior, with 1 style and 3 stigmas; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent capsules with many to numerous seeds; x=12. - Tropical southwestern Asia: Ixiolirion (4).
    

16. Cyanastraceae Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28: 357. 22 Mai 1900, nom. cons.
    

    Plants perennial herbs with corms; leaves graminoid (basally) or laminar (above), lanceolate or ovate, pinnately-, palmately- or parallel=veined, sessile or petiolate; stems erect; inflorescences with flowers in terminal panicles, thyrses or racemes subtended by a spathelike bract; flowers medium-sized, 3-merous, regular, the tepals 6 and fused in 2 whorls with both whorls essentially similar; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by pores or short slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, partially inferior, with 1 style and 1 or 3 stigmas; fruits a membranous schizocarp with 1(2) seeds; x=11, 12. - Tropical Africa: Cyanastrum (6).
    

17. Eriospermaceae Endl., Ench. Bot.: 90. 15-21 Aug 1841.
    

    Plants perennial herbs with a single large tuber or a complex of tubers and stolons; leaves few, small and scalelike basally or medium-sized and spirally arranged, the blade variable, linear, lanceolate or oblong to ovate, with various modifications such as filiform threads and thickish often fleshy segments, parallel-veined; stems erects; inflorescences with flowers in racemes or panicles, without subtended bracts; flowers medium-sized, 3-merous, regular, the tepals 6, free, in 2 whorls with both whorls essentially similar; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 style and stigma; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent capsules with few seeds, conspicuously hairy. - Southern Africa: Eriospermum (90).
    

18. Hypoxidaceae R. Br. in M. Flinders, Voy. Terra Austr. 2: 576. 19 Jul 1814, nom. cons.
    

    Plants herbaceous perennials from corms or rhizomes; leaves graminoid, linear to lanceolate, parallel- or pinnately-veined, with a persistent basal meristem; stems slender, more or less erect; inflorescences with flowers solitary or in heads, spikes, umbels or racemes, with or without involucral bracts; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, the tepals 4 or 6, free or fused at least basally, in 2 whorls with both whorls essentially similar; stamens (3) 4 or 6, free or adnate with the tepals and united with the ovary, mostly in 2 whorls of 3, the anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 1- (2) or 3-carpelled and 1- (2) or 3-loculed, syncarpous, inferior, with 1 or 3 free or partially fused styles; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent or indehiscent carpsules or fleshy berries with several seeds. Widespread except for northern Europe and Asia: 9 genera and approximately 175 sp.: Curculigo (15), Empodium (10), Hypoxidia (2), Hypoxis (100), Molineria (7), Pauridia (2), Rhodophypoxis (6), Saniella (1) and Spiloxene (30).
    

19. Hemerocallidaceae R. Br., Prodr.: 295. 27 Mar 1810.
    

    Plants herbaceous perennials from rhizomes or tubers; leaves graminoid, linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems erect, often stiff; inflorescences with flowers in cymes (often helicoid cymes); flowers medium-sized to large, irregular, zygomorphic, 3-merous, the tepals 6, fused into a campanulate to funnelform tube below, the petaloid lobes similar; stamens 6, adnate to the floral tube, free and in 2 whorls but of unequal lengths, the anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 style and stigma; fruits non-fleshy capsules with many subglobose seeds; x=11. - Temperate Eurasia, especially Japan: Hemerocallis (16).
    

20. Hesperocallidaceae Traub, Pl. Life 28: 131. Jan-Apr 1972.
    

    Plants herbaceous perennials from deep-seated bulbs; leaves graminoid, linear, strongly crisped and white-margined, parallel-veined; stems erect, stout, leafy at the base; inflorescences with flowers in elongated terminal racemes; flowers medium-size, regular, 3-merous, the tepals 6, fused into a narrow tube below, the petaloid lobes similar; stamens 6, adnate to the floral tube, free and in 2 whorls, the anthers versifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 style and a discoid stigma; fruits non-fleshy capsules with many flattened seeds; x=12. - Western North America: Hesperocallis (1).
    

21. Amaryllidaceae J. St.-Hil., Expos. Fam. Nat. 1: 134. Feb-Apr 1805, nom. cons.
    

    Plants herbaceous perennials primarily from bulbs (infrequently rhizomes and these often intermediate); leaves variable, linear to orbicular, entire, parallel-veined; stems erect and often stoutish, mostly leafy at the base; inflorescences with flowers in cymes or umbels, occasionally in compact heads, often spatheate; flowers medium-size to large, regular to irregular and somewhat zygomorphic, 3-merous, the tepals 6, free or fused into a short to long tube in 2 whorls, the whorls similar; stamens (3-) 6 (-18) and when 6 in 2 whorls, free or adnate to the floral tube, sometimes fused one to another, the anthers dorsifixed or rarely basifixed, dehiscing by pores or longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, inferior or rarely partially so, with 1 style and 1 or 3 capitate stigmas; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent or indehiscent capsules or fleshy berries with several to many winged or wingless seeds. - Widespread in the tropics and subtropics, mainly of the Americas and Africa, occasionally in temperate regions; 60-65 genera and perhaps 750 sp.: Including Amaryllis (1), Crinum (115), Galanthus (17), Gethyllis (32), Haemanthus (21), Leucojum (9), Lycoris (11), Narcissus (27), Nerine (30), Pancratium (20) and Zephyranthes (70); see the list of genera from Kew.
    

22. Herreriaceae Endl., Ench. Bot.: 90. 15-21 Aug 1841.
    

    Plants scandent subshrubs, shrubs or lianas from rhizomes or tubers; leaves alternate or opposite, leathery, linear to lanceolate, parallel-veined; stems twining or scrambling, sometimes with stem prickles; inflorescences in axillary panicles with small scalelike leaves at the base; flowers small, regular, 3-merous, the tepals 6 in 2 whorls, similar but mostly sepaloid; stamens 6, free, in 2 whorls, the anthers dorsifixed or basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3-carpelled and 3-locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 style and 1 capitate stigma; fruits non-fleshy dehiscent capsules with few to many flattened and winged seeds. - South America and Madagascar; 2 genera and 9 sp.: Herreria (7) and Herreriopsis (2).
    

23. Asteliaceae Dumort., Anal. Fam. Pl.: 59, 61. 1829.
    

    Plants dwarf to large perennial herbs, shrubs or arborescent and treelike; leaves often large and alternate, herbaceous or leathery, sessile or infrequently petiolate, linear to ovate, parallel=veined; inflorescences with flowers in racemes or spikes; flowers small to medium-size, 3- (or rarely 5-7-) merous, the tepals 6 (or rarely 10-14), free or fused into a short tube in 2 whorls, the whorls similar; stamens 6, adnate to the perianth, free, in 1 or 2 whorls, the anthers basifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; ovaries 3- (4-) carpelled and 1- or 3- (rarely 4-) locular, syncarpous, superior, with 1 style and 1 stigma; fruits non-fleshy typically indehiscent capsules or more commonly fleshy berries with few to several seeds. - Southeastern Asia, Pacific islands (including the Hawaiian Islands), Falkland Islands, tropical South America, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania; 5 genera and 59 sp.: Astelia (25), Collospermum (5), Cordyline (23), Milligania (5) and Neoastelia (1).
    

Last revised: 25 Nov 1997