Liliaceae

Liliaceae Temporal range: 68–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Late Cretaceous - Recent
Lilium martagon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Superorder:	Lilianae
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Liliaceae Juss.
Type genus
Lilium L. Sp. Pl. 1: 302. (1753)
Type species
Lilium candidum L. Sp. Pl. 1: 302. (1753)
Subfamilies and tribes
subfamily: Lilioideae tribe: Medeoleae tribe: Lilieae subfamily: Calochortoideae subfamily: Streptopoideae sensu APWeb
Diversity
about 600 species

sensu APWeb

The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of fifteen genera and about 705 known species (Christenhusz & Byng 2016 ) of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a fair amount of morphological diversity despite genetic similarity. Common characteristics include large flowers with parts arranged in threes: with six colored or patterned petaloid tepals (undifferentiated petals and sepals) arranged in two whorls, six stamens and a superior ovary. The leaves are linear in shape, with their veins usually arranged parallel to the edges, single and arranged alternating on the stem, or in a rosette at the base. Most species are grown from bulbs, although some have rhizomes. First described in 1789, the lily family became a paraphyletic "catch-all" group of petaloid monocots that did not fit into other families and included a great number of genera now included in other families and in some cases in other orders. Consequently, many sources and descriptions labelled "Liliaceae" deal with the broader sense of the family.

The family evolved approximately 52 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous to Early Paleogene eras. Liliaceae are widely distributed, mainly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the flowers are insect pollinated. Many Liliaceae are important ornamental plants, widely grown for their attractive flowers and involved in a major floriculture of cut flowers and dry bulbs. Some species are poisonous if eaten and can have adverse health effects in humans and household pets.