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| Family: | Liliaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | lily family [Zomlefer, pp. 270-273] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 250 genera; 3,500 species U.S.: 75 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 23 genera |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K3 Co3 S6
P |
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| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | raceme, sometimes solitary, umbel, or cyme |
| Calyx (sepals): | 3, separate, may resemble petals (=tepals) |
| Corolla (petals): | 3, separate |
| Androecium: | 6, in two whorls opposite the perianth parts |
| Gynoecium: | 3 united carpels, superior ovary (=hypogynous) or rarely inferior ovary (=epigynous), axile placentation, numerous ovules |
| Fruit: | capsule or berry |
| Other features: | |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| Leaves: | alternate, simple, linear, fleshy in some |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | herbs,with underground storage organs (bulbs, corms, and rhizomes) |
| Distribution & Ecology: | cosmopolitan |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Allium, wild onion Brodiaea, brodiaea Calochortus, Mariposa lily Camassia, camas Disporum, fairy lanterns/bells Erythronium, avalanche/fawn lily Fritillaria, skull-cap Smilacina, Solomon plume Streptopus, twisted stalk Trillium, trillium, wake-robin Veratrum, false hellebore Zigadenus, death camas |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | Allium, onion, garlic, chives, leek Asparagus, asparagus Colchicum, autumn crocus (source of colchicine) |
| Ornamentals: | many garden ornamentals Lilium, lily Tulipa, tulip Narcissus, dafoddil, narcissus (Amarylidaceae) |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Liliaceae Calochortus |
|---|---|
| Liliaceae Camassia |
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| Liliaceae Erythronium |
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| Liliaceae Trillium |
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| Liliaceae Zygadenus |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |