The Liliaceae plant family, commonly known as the lily family, is a large and diverse group of flowering plants. The family includes a wide range of species, from well-known plants such as tulips and lilies, to lesser-known species such as aloes and yams. The Liliaceae plant family has a long and interesting history, including several changes to its classification and name.
The Liliaceae plant family was first named by the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Linnaeus, who is considered the father of modern taxonomy, created the system of classification that is still used today to organize and name plants and animals. In his original classification, Linnaeus placed the Liliaceae plant family in the class “Hexandria” and the order “Monogynia,” indicating that its flowers had six stamens and one pistil.
Over the years, taxonomists have continued to study and classify plants in the Liliaceae plant family, resulting in several changes to its classification and name. In the 19th century, for example, the German botanist Gustav Hegi proposed a new classification for the Liliaceae plant family, based on the number of stamens and pistils in its flowers.
In recent years, advances in genetic research have led to further changes in the classification of the Liliaceae plant family. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a number of studies using DNA analysis showed that some plants previously classified in the Liliaceae plant family were more closely related to other plant families. As a result, several subfamilies and genera within the Liliaceae plant family were reclassified into new families listed below.
Overall, the history of the Liliaceae plant family is a fascinating example of the ongoing process of scientific discovery and classification in the field of botany. Through the work of dedicated taxonomists and researchers, our understanding of this plant family and its relationship to other plant families continues to evolve and improve.
Agavaceae
- Agave (century plant)
- Beschorneria
- Cordyline (cabbage tree)
- Furcraea
- Hesperaloe
- Manfreda
- Polianthes (tuberose)
- Yucca
Alliaceae
- Agapanthus (lily-of-the-Nile)
- Allium (onion)
- Bloomeria
- Brodiaea
- Dichelostemma (blue dicks)
- Triteleia (Ithuriel’s spear)
- Tulbaghia (society garlic)
Alstroemeriaceae
- Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily)
- Bomarea
Amaryllidaceae
- Amaryllis (naked lady)
- Boophane
- Brunsvigia
- Clivia
- Crinum
- Cyrtanthus
- Eucharis (Amazon lily)
- Galanthus (snow drops)
- Haemanthus (blood lily)
- Hippeastrum (Dutch amaryllis)
- Hymenocallis (Peruvian daffodil)
- Leucojum (snowflake)
- Lycoris (spider lily)
- Narcissus (daffodil)
- Nerine
- Pancratium (sea lily)
- Scadoxus
- Sprekelia (Aztec lily)
- Sternbergia
- Zephyranthes (rain lily)
Anthericaceae
- Anthericum
- Chlorophytum (spider plant)
- Caesia
- Thysanotis
Aphyllanthaceae*
Asparagaceae
- Asparagas
Asphodelaceae
- Aloe
- Asphodelus (asphodel)
- Asphodeline
- Astroloba
- Bulbine
- Bulbinella
- Eremurus (foxtail lily)
- Gasteria
- Haworthia
- Kniphofia (red hot poker)
Asteliaceae
- Astelia
- Cordyline (cabbage tree, ti plant)
Blanfordiaceae*
- Blandfordia (Christmas bells)
Calectesiacaeae*
Calochortaceae*
- Calochortus (mariposa lily, fairy lanterns)
Campynemaceae
Colchicaceae
- Bulbocodium
- Colchicum (meadow saffron)
- Gloriosa (gloriosa lily)
- Sandersonia
Convallariaceae
- Aspidistra (cast iron plant)
- Convallaria (lily-of-the-valley)
- Liriope (lily turf)
- Maianthemum (false lily-of-the-valley)
- Ophiopogon (mondo grass)
- Polygonatum (Solomon’s seal)
- Reineckea
- Rohdea
- Smilacina (false Solomon’s seal)
Cyanastraceae*
Dasypogonaceae
- Dasypogon
- Kingia
- Lomandra
Doryanthaceae*
- Doryanthes (spear-lily)
Dracaenaceae
- Dracaena (dragon tree, corn plant)
- Sansevieria (snake plant)
Eriospermaceae*
Funkiaceae
- Hesperocallis (desert lily)
- Hosta
- Leucocrinum
Hemericallidaceae*
- Hemerocallis (day-lily)
Herreriaceae*
Huanganaceae
Hyacinthaceae
- Albuca
- Bowiea (climbing onion)
- Camassia (camas lily)
- Chionodoxa (glory-of-the-snow)
- Eucomis (pineapple lily)
- Hyacinthus (hyacinth)
- Hyacinthoides (blue-bell)
- Lachenalia
- Muscari (grape hyacinth)
- Ornithogalum
- Puschkinia
- Scilla (squill)
- Urginea (sea onion)
- Veltheimia
Hypoxidaceae
- Curculigo (palm lily)
- Hypoxis
Ixioliriaceae*
Liliaceae
- Cardiocrinum (giant lily)
- Erythronium (fawn lily)
- Fritillaria (fritillary)
- Lilium (lily)
- Nomocharis
- Notholirion
- Tulipa (tulip)
Luzuriagaceae
Melanthiaceae
- Helonias (swamp pink)
- Tofieldia
- Veratrum (false hellebore)
- Xerophyllum (bear-grass)
- Zigadenus (death-camas)
Nolinaceae
- Beaucarnea (pony-tail palm)
- Calibanus
- Dasylirion (sotol)
- Nolina
Petermanniaceae*
Philesiaceae
- Lapageria (Chilean bellflower)
- Philesia
Phormiaceae
- Dianella
- Phormium (New Zealand flax)
Ruscaceae
- Danaë
- Ruscus (butcher’s broom)
Smilacaceae
- Smilax (greenbriar)
Tecophilaeaceae
- Odontostomon
- Tecophilaea
Trilliaceae
- Paris
- Scoliopus (fetid adder’s tongue)
- Trillium
Uvulariaceae
- Clintonia
- Disporum (fairy bells)
- Streptopus (twisted-stalk)
- Tricyrtus (toad lily)
- Uvularia
Xanthorrhoeaceae*
- Xanthorrhoea (Australian grass tree)
Additional Resources & Information
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All Source Citation References
- Kelch, D. (2022 December). What Happened to the Liliaceae?. Pacific Horticulture. https://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/what-happened-to-the-liliaceae/
- Wikipedia. (2022 December). Taxonomy of Liliaceae. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy_of_Liliaceae