Liliaceae

Amaryllis belladonna

A large family (in the current UK accepted scheme*) of Monocotyledons which, although very variable, usually have noteworthy flowers with 6 tepals (petals which are also sepals). There are also usually 6 stamens and a 3-celled seed capsule. (Paris is an exception.) Most Liliaceae are herbaceous perennials with some form of underground storage organ.

Closely allied families in the UK are Iridaceae (3 stamens), Agavaceae (similar fowers but huge rosettes of tough leaves) and Dioscoreaceae (dioecious).

Some Liliaceae from Floralimages:

Snake's Head Fritillary

Lilium henryi

Daffodil

Kerry Lily

Herb Paris

Genera of the family in FloralImages:

* Many botanists throughout the world treat the Amaryllid sub-family as distinct for instance - as do most horticulturalists.

APG II Implications

There are substantial implications for the Liliaceae in the new results coming from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

In particular the Alliaceae and Asparagaceae, currently regarded as sub-families of the Liliaceae are proposed to be in a new Class - the Asparagales. This leaves the remaining Lily family members in the Liliaceae family of the Liliales order.