Asphodelaceae
Encyclopedia
Asphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family
Xanthorrhoeaceae
in the order
Asparagales
. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name
of the type
genus
, Asphodelus
. Members of group are native
to Africa
, central and western Europe
, the Mediterranean basin
, Central Asia
and Australia
, with one genus
(Bulbinella
) having some of its species
in New Zealand
. The greatest diversity
occurs in South Africa
.
The genera Aloe
, Asphodelus
and Kniphofia
are perhaps the best known genera from their use in horticulture as ornamental plant
s.
in up to 800 species
. The genera are listed below. Other treatments combine some of these genera into as few as seven.
For a phylogeny of the family see the phylogenetic tree
at Xanthorrhoeaceae
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription of the family has varied wildly....
in the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Asparagales
Asparagales
Asparagales is the name of an order of plants, used in modern classification systems such as the APG III system . The order takes its name from the family Asparagaceae and is placed in the monocots. The order has only recently been recognized in classification systems...
. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
of the type
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Asphodelus
Asphodelus
Asphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial plants native to western, central and southern Europe, but now spread worldwide. Asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light...
. Members of group are native
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, central and western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Mediterranean basin
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
, Central Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, with one genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
(Bulbinella
Bulbinella
Bulbinella is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. Most species are endemic to South Africa, confined to the winter rainfall area with a few in New Zealand where they are most common in the central Otago region which enjoys a similar climate to the Cape Region...
) having some of its species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The greatest diversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
occurs in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The genera Aloe
Aloe
Aloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....
, Asphodelus
Asphodelus
Asphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial plants native to western, central and southern Europe, but now spread worldwide. Asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light...
and Kniphofia
Kniphofia
Kniphofia , also called Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily or Poker plant, is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, that includes 70 or more species native to Africa...
are perhaps the best known genera from their use in horticulture as ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s.
List of genera
According to the AP-website , the subfamily includes some 15 generaGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in up to 800 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. The genera are listed below. Other treatments combine some of these genera into as few as seven.
- AloeAloeAloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....
L. - AsphodelineAsphodelineAsphodeline is a genus of perennial plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. From the Mediterranean, it has fleshy roots and fragrant, starry flowers that are yellow in May to June.It grows up to 4 ft in well-drained soil....
Reichenbach - AsphodelusAsphodelusAsphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial plants native to western, central and southern Europe, but now spread worldwide. Asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light...
L. - Astroloba Uitewaal
- BulbineBulbineBulbine is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber shown by many of the species...
Wolf - BulbinellaBulbinellaBulbinella is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. Most species are endemic to South Africa, confined to the winter rainfall area with a few in New Zealand where they are most common in the central Otago region which enjoys a similar climate to the Cape Region...
Kunth - Chortolirion A. Berger
- EremurusEremurusEremurus is a genus of 35-40 deciduous perennial flowers, also known as the foxtail lilies or desert candles. The inflorescence looks similar to a long spike or a bottlebrush. It consists of many flowers in copper, bright yellow, snow white, pastel pink, orange or any combination of those colors....
M. Bieberstein - GasteriaGasteriaGasteria is a genus of succulent plants native to South Africa. Closely related genera include Aloe and Haworthia. The genus is named for its stomach-shaped flowers and is part of the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae...
Duval - HaworthiaHaworthiaHaworthia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae.. They are small solitary or clump-forming and endemic to South Africa. Some species have firm, tough leaves, usually dark green in color, whereas other are soft and semi-translucent. Their...
Duval - JodrelliaJodrelliaJodrellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. Three species occur from Central to North East Africa.-References:*...
Baijnath - KniphofiaKniphofiaKniphofia , also called Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily or Poker plant, is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, that includes 70 or more species native to Africa...
Moench - LomatophyllumLomatophyllumLomatophyllum is a genus of succulent plants from Madagascar belonging to the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. There are about 30 species belonging to the genus.Lomatophyllum means 'margined leaf'....
Willdenow - PoellnitziaPoellnitziaPoellnitzia rubriflora also known as Haworthia rubriflora var. jacobseniana, Poellnitzia rubriflora var. jacobseniana, Apicra jacobseniana, Haworthia rubriflora, Astroloba rubriflora, Apicra rubriflora, Aloe rubriflora from the Asphodelaceae family...
Uitewaal - TrachyandraTrachyandraTrachyandra is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae.Species include:* Trachyandra erythrorrhiza, Oberm.* Trachyandra peculiaris, Oberm....
Kunth
For a phylogeny of the family see the phylogenetic tree
Phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon similarities and differences in their physical and/or genetic characteristics...
at Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Xanthorrhoeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription of the family has varied wildly....
.
External links
- Asphodelaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval. Version: 9th March 2006. http://delta-intkey.com
- NCBI Taxonomy Browser
- links at CSDL, Texas