List of lilioid families

Vanilla planifolia, the source of vanillin, in the family Orchidaceae

For the other monocot families, see List of alismatid families and List of commelinid families.

The lilioid monocots are a group of 33 interrelated families of flowering plants. They generally have tepals (indistinguishable petals and sepals) similar to those on the true lilies (Lilium). Like other monocots they usually have a single embryonic leaf (cotyledon) in their seeds, scattered vascular systems, leaves with parallel veins, flower parts in multiples of three, and roots that can develop in more than one place along the stems.

The lilioids can be subdivided into five orders: Asparagales, Dioscoreales, Liliales, Pandanales and Petrosaviales. Asparagales is roughly tied with Poales for the most diverse monocot order and includes Orchidaceae, the largest flowering plant family, with more than 26,000 species. Plants in Dioscoreales, such as yams, usually have inflorescences with glandular hairs. In Liliales, plants often have elliptical leaves with up to seven primary veins, inflorescences at the tips of stems, and nectar-producing glands on the tepals. Pandanales includes fragile, non-herbaceous and drought-tolerant species, with leaves often arranged in three vertical rows. Petrosaviales includes species with spirally arranged leaves, nectar-producing glands, and racemes (unbranched inflorescences with short flower stalks).

Glossary

From the glossary of botanical terms:

• annual: a plant species that completes its life cycle within a single year or growing season
• basal: attached close to the base (of a plant or an evolutionary tree diagram)
• climber: a vine that leans on, twines around or clings to other plants for vertical support
• glandular hair: a hair tipped with a secretory structure
• herbaceous: not woody; usually green and soft in texture
• perennial: not an annual or biennial
• woody: hard and lignified; not herbaceous

The APG IV system is the fourth in a series of plant taxonomies from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Families

Families

Family and a common name	Type genus and etymology	Total genera; global distribution	Description and uses	Order	Type genus images
Alstroemeria­ceae (Inca-lily family)	Alstroemeria was named for Clas Alströmer (1736–1794).	4 genera, in Australia, New Zealand and central and southern parts of the Americas	Generally rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, erect or climbing. Alstroemeria ligtu and Bomerea edulis are cultivated as food crops, and Alstroemeria flowers are bred by horticulturists for the cut-flower trade.	Liliales	Alstroemeria aurea
Amaryllidaceae (onion family)	Amaryllis was the name of a mythical Greek shepherdess.	69 genera, almost worldwide	Herbaceous perennials growing from fleshy rhizomes or bulbs. Allium has been consumed as food or seasoning since the Bronze Age or earlier; today it includes onions, shallots, leeks and garlic. Many bulbs in this family are commercially important in the bulb trade, and Hippeastrum and Narcissus are popular in the cut-flower trade.	Asparagales	Amaryllis belladonna
Asparagaceae (hyacinth family)	Asparagus comes from a Latin plant name.	120 genera, worldwide, except in the eastern Amazon basin and some deserts	Trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants that grow in soil or rarely on other plants. Asparagus and Agave have long histories of use in food and drink, while sisal is used for rope-making. Many species are grown as ornamentals or cut-flowers.	Asparagales	Asparagus officinalis
Asphodelaceae (daylily family)	Asphodelus is from a Greek plant name.	41 genera, worldwide, except in North America	Climbing, shrubby, tree-like or herbaceous perennials. The sap of Aloe vera has widespread use in cosmetics and food. Aloe, Asphodeline, Bulbine, Eremurus, Gasteria, Haworthia and Kniphofia are popular ornamentals.	Asparagales	Asphodelus ramosus
Asteliaceae (pineapple-grass family)	Astelia is from the Greek for "columnless" (or "trunkless").	3 genera, scattered in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly	Herbaceous tufted perennials that grow in soil, or sometimes on other plants. Leaves of Astelia grandis are used in woven handicrafts in New Zealand.	Asparagales	Astelia nervosa
Blandfordiaceae (Christmas-bells family)	Blandfordia was named for George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766–1840).	1 genus, in Eastern Australia, including Tasmania	Herbaceous tufted perennials growing from thickened rhizomes. The sole genus is bred and cultivated for the cut-flower trade.	Asparagales	Blandfordia nobilis
Boryaceae (pincushion-lily family)	Borya was named for Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent (1778–1846).	2 genera, in Australia	Perennial clumpy shrubs	Asparagales	Borya sphaerocephala
Burmanniaceae (bluethreads family)	Burmannia was named for Johannes Burman (1707–1780).	14 genera, in the tropics worldwide, the United States, Japan, and Oceania	Generally blue, purple or white herbaceous plants. Some species rely on fungi and organic material rather than photosynthesis.	Dioscore­ales	Burmannia disticha
Campynemata­ceae (green-mountainlily family)	Campynema is from the Greek for "bent thread".	2 genera, in Tasmania and New Caledonia	Rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, with just one or a few leaves clustered at the plant's base	Liliales	Campynema lineare
Colchicaceae (naked-ladies family)	Colchicum was named for Colchis (on the Black Sea, in modern-day Georgia).	15 genera, in a variety of temperate and tropical habitats, although not in South America	Herbaceous or slightly woody perennials, erect or climbing, with rhizomes, tubers or corms. Most species are toxic, and sometimes deadly to livestock. Colchicine (from Colchicum) is used in the study of cell division.	Liliales	Colchicum autumnale
Corsiaceae (ghost-flower family)	Corsia was named for Bardo Corsi Salviati (1844–1907), an Italian nobleman.	3 genera, in Southern South America, southern China and Oceania	Rhizomatous or tuberous herbaceous perennials, relying on fungi and organic matter instead of photosynthesis	Liliales	Corsia ornata
Cyclanthaceae (Panama hat family)	Cyclanthus is from the Greek for "circle of flowers".	12 genera, in the tropical Americas	Perennials growing in soil or on other plants. Straw from Carludovica palmata is woven into baskets and Panama hats (which originated in Ecuador).	Pandanales	Cyclanthus bipartitus
Dioscoreaceae (yam family)	Dioscorea was named for Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40 – c. 90).	4 genera, in the tropics and some temperate regions	Rhizomatous or tuberous plants, mostly vines. Yam species were first domesticated around 11,000 years ago, independently in West Africa and southern China.	Dioscore­ales	Dioscorea bulbifera
Doryanthaceae (gymea-lily family)	Doryanthes is from the Greek for "spear of flowers".	1 genus, in Eastern Australia	One genus of large tufted perennials. Their nectar helps sustain honeyeaters.	Asparagales	Doryanthes palmeri
Hypoxidaceae (stargrass family)	Hypoxis comes from a Greek plant name.	5 genera, throughout the tropics and in a few temperate zones in North America, Japan and Australia	Herbaceous perennials. The thickened rhizomes are covered with dead leaf sheaths and soft, short hairs.	Asparagales	Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Iridaceae (iris family)	Iris comes from the Greek for "goddess of the rainbow".	69 genera, worldwide, except in deserts	Generally herbaceous perennials growing from bulbs, rhizomes or corms. Crocus sativus is grown commercially for the spice saffron. Many plants in this family are bred and cultivated as ornamentals, especially Freesia, Gladiolus, Iris and Ixia.	Asparagales	Iris sibirica
Ixioliriaceae (tartar-lily family)	Ixiolirion comes from the genus Ixia and the Greek word for "lily".	1 genus, in semi-desert zones from Egypt to Central Asia	Herbaceous perennials with corms and erect stems. Ixiolirion tataricum bulbs are sold as ornamentals.	Asparagales	Ixiolirion tataricum
Lanariaceae (lambtails family)	Lanaria is from the Greek for "woolly".	1 genus, in Fynbos shrubland in southern South Africa	One species, a herbaceous perennial with erect, leafy rhizomes	Asparagales	Lanaria lanata
Liliaceae (lily family)	Lilium comes from a Latin plant name.	15 genera, in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in temperate zones	Herbaceous perennials with erect stems that grow from bulbs or rhizomes. Tulips (Tulipa) and true lilies (Lilium) are mainly bred for the cut-flower trade, but bulbs of some species are also consumed as food.	Liliales	Lilium bulbiferum
Melanthiaceae (wake robin family)	Melanthium is from the Greek for "dark flowers".	14 genera, in the non-tropical Northern Hemisphere, and in Peru, Taiwan and the Himalayas	Herbaceous perennials with rhizomes and bulbs or other underground organs. Paris japonica has the largest known genome of any living thing.	Liliales	Melanthium parviflorum
Nartheciaceae (bog asphodel family)	Narthecium comes from a Greek plant name.	5 genera, in parts of the United States, northern South America and Eurasia	Herbaceous rhizomatous perennials. Narthecium ossifragum has been used for dyeing.	Dioscore­ales	Narthecium asiaticum
Orchidaceae (orchid family)	Orchis comes from the Greek for "testicle", from the shape of the paired root tubers of many Mediterranean species.	707 genera, worldwide, especially in the tropics	Largely herbaceous plants that generally grow in soil or on other plants. Orchids are the largest family of vascular plants, with more than 26,000 species and 100,000 recorded cultivars. Vanilla is derived from the fermentation of Vanilla planifolia. Cattleya, Cymbidium, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Vanda are commonly grown ornamentals.	Asparagales	Orchis purpurea
Pandanaceae (screwpine family)	Pandanus was named for the Malay plant pandan, a curry spice.	5 genera, scattered throughout the Old World tropics	Woody vines, shrubs or palm-like trees, often with aerial roots. Pandanus conoideus is an important crop in Papua New Guinea. Other species of the genus are consumed in Indonesia, Micronesia and New Zealand.	Pandanales	Pandanus tectorius
Petermannia­ceae (Petermann's-vine family)	Petermannia was named for August Heinrich Petermann (1822–1878), a cartographer.	1 genus, in Eastern Australia	One species, a rhizomatous perennial with tendrils, woody vines and prickly stems	Liliales	Petermannia cirrosa
Petrosaviaceae (oze-so family)	Petrosavia was named for Pietro Savi (1811–1871), an Italian professor of botany.	2 genera, in several eastern Asian countries	Herbaceous rhizomatous plants, sometimes relying on fungi and organic matter instead of photosynthesis	Petrosavi­ales	Petrosavia sakuraii
Philesiaceae (Chilean-bellflower family)	Philesia comes from the Greek for "loving".	2 genera, in Chile	Climbers or shrubs, found in beech forests in the cooler parts of Chile. Lapageria rosea is the country's national flower.	Liliales	Philesia magellanica
Ripogonaceae (supplejack family)	Ripogonum comes from the Greek for "wicker knees", referring to the joints on tangled stalks.	1 genus, in Oceania	Woody rhizomatous evergreen shrubs or vines. Stems have been used for handicrafts and in construction.	Liliales	Ripogonum scandens
Smilacaceae (catbrier family)	Smilax comes from a Greek plant name.	1 genus, found throughout the tropics and in some temperate zones	Perennial vines or shrubs, often with prickly stems. Some Smilax species have been used in root beer and other soft drinks.	Liliales	Smilax aspera
Stemonaceae (baibu family)	Stemona comes from the Greek for "stamens".	4 genera, in the southern United States, tropical and subtropical Asia, and Oceania	Herbaceous perennials, usually twining or erect. They rely on ants for seed propagation.	Pandanales	Stemona tuberosa
Tecophilaeaceae (Chilean-crocus family)	Tecophilaea was named for Tecophila Billotti, a 19th-century Italian botanical artist.	9 genera, in Sub-Saharan Africa, California and Chile	Herbaceous perennials sprouting from tubers or rounded corms	Asparagales	Tecophilaea cyanocrocus
Triuridaceae (threetails family)	Triuris comes from the Greek for "three tails".	8 genera, scattered throughout the tropics	White, yellow, purple or red rhizomatous plants, relying on fungi and organic material rather than photosynthesis	Pandanales	Sciaphila secundiflora (type genus Triuris not pictured)
Velloziaceae (baboon-tail family)	Vellozia was named for Joaquim Velloso de Miranda (1733–1815), a Brazilian clergyman and plant collector.	6 genera, widespread in South America and Africa (except North Africa), with some species in Asia	Woody or herbaceous perennials. They can reach 6 m (20 ft) in height.	Pandanales	Vellozia squamata
Xeronemataceae (Poor-Knights-lily family)	Xeronema is from the Greek for "dry thread".	1 genus, in Poor Knights and other New Zealand islands, and New Caledonia	Stemless tufted evergreen perennials	Asparagales	Xeronema callistemon

See also

• List of plant family names with etymologies

Citations

Some of POWO's data originally appeared in different databases. On the page for each family, these databases (if any) will appear under the "General information" tab.

References

• Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2016). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 181 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1111/boj.12385.
• Bayton, Ross (2020). The Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-20017-0.
• Burkhardt, Lotte (2018). Verzeichnis eponymischer Pflanzennamen – Erweiterte Edition [Index of Eponymic Plant Names – Extended Edition] (pdf) (in German). Berlin: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin. doi:10.3372/epolist2018. ISBN 978-3-946292-26-5. S2CID 187926901. Retrieved January 1, 2021. See the Creative Commons license.
• Christenhusz, Maarten; Fay, Michael Francis; Chase, Mark Wayne (2017). Plants of the World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Vascular Plants. Chicago, Illinois: Kew Publishing and The University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-52292-0.
• Coombes, Allen (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2.
• Givnish, Thomas J.; Ames, Mercedes; McNeal, Joel R.; McKain, Michael R.; Steele, P. Roxanne; dePamphilis, Claude W.; Graham, Sean W.; Pires, J. Chris; Stevenson, Dennis W.; Zomlefer, Wendy B.; Briggs, Barbara G.; Duvall, Melvin R.; Moore, Michael J.; Heaney, J. Michael; Soltis, Douglas E.; Soltis, Pamela S.; Thiele, Kevin; Leebens-Mack, James H. (December 27, 2010). "Assembling the Tree of the Monocotyledons: Plastome Sequence Phylogeny and Evolution of Poales". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 97 (4): 584–616. doi:10.3417/2010023. S2CID 15036227. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
• IPNI (2022). "International Plant Names Index". London, Boston and Canberra: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
• Meerow, A.W. (2002). "The new phylogeny of the Lilioid Monocotyledons". Acta Horticulturae. 570 (570): 31–45. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.570.2.
• POWO (2019). "Plants of the World Online". London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2022. See their terms-of-use license.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2010). "Monocots I: General Alismatids & Lilioids". London: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
• Stearn, William (2002). Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-36469-5.
• Stevens, P.F. (2023) [2001]. "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
• Turland, N. J.; et al. (eds.). International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017 (electronic ed.). Glashütten: International Association for Plant Taxonomy. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
• "USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). Beltsville, Maryland: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
• Zomlefer, Wendy B.; Williams, Norris H.; Whitten, W. Mark; Judd, Walter S. (September 2001). "Generic circumscription and relationships in the tribe Melanthieae (Liliales, Melanthiaceae), with emphasis on Zigadenus: evidence from ITS and trnL-F sequence data". American Journal of Botany. 88 (9): 1657–1669. doi:10.2307/3558411. JSTOR 3558411. PMID 21669700. Retrieved December 15, 2022.