ASPARAGACEAE
NB Asparagaceae includes under APG IV the former families , e.g., Agavaceae, Aphyllanthaceae, Asparagaceae s.s., Anthericaceae, Convallariaceae, Dracaenaceae, Laxmanniaceae, Ruscaceae, Themidaceae. Some former families are grouped together in subfamilies. Some of them were included in Liliaceae (see FM); Liliaceae, however, are in the order of Liliales whereas Asparagaceae are part of the Asparagales.
Morphological description
Terrestrial herbs, shrubs, climbers or tree-like. Sometimes Schopfbaüme (some of the former family Dracaenaceae: Cordyline, Dracaena). Often rhizomes,bulbs or tubers.
Leaves
Leaves usually alternate and usually crowded at the end of the stem or in rosettes; linear venation.
Inflorescence
Usually inflorescence terminal or axillary racemes or panicles.
Flowers
Flowers usually actinomorphic; tepals 6, stamens 5, usually free; ovary 3-locular.
Fruits
Fruit usually capsular or berry.
Seeds
Seeds often black.
Different from: Liliaceae: not woody, leaves rarely crowded.
Distribution: The family is widespread. In Malesia and Southeast Asia mostly genera from the subfamilies Agavoideae, Lomandroideae, Asparagoideae.
Notes: Many species are used as ornamental plants.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 3 (1968) 157- 165. Jessop, JP. 1979. Liliaceae - I. Flora Malesiana - Series 1, Spermatophyta 9: 189-235. L. Pedley & P. I. Forster, Fl. Austral. 46 (1986) 71-88).
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Schopfbaüme: Cordyline, Dracaena - Climbers without hooks or tendrils: Eustrephus – Bulbils: Furcraea, Yucca – Proleptic shoots: Asparagus, Dracaena (p.p.) – Resinous exudate: Dracaena (p.p.) – Monocarpic plants: Agave – Compact inflorescence: Dracaena, Tupistra – Corolla or perianth fimbriate or bifid: Eustrephus, Thysanotus – Yellow perianth or corolla: Dracaena (p.p.) – Stamens opposite the petals: Asparagus – Blues fruits/seeds: Peliosanthes – Trilocular capsules: Arthropodium, Caesia, Chlorophytum, Thysanotus,Tricyrtis.
Illustrations: Fig. 5. Dracaena (Pleomele) angustifolia Roxb. (Agavaceae). Reproduced from J. J. Ochse & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Vegetables of the Dutch East Indies (1980) fig. 285.
Images in PhytoImages for Asparagaceae.