Liliaceae Family Plants

The plants of the liliaceae family have 250 genera and 4000 species. While in India the number is 169 species. They are considering as typical monocot family and represent the basic monocot stock from which the other monocot family have been arrises. It shows some similarities with some families, As it shows affinity for Amarydilaceae, Jucaceae. But due to presence of superior ovary and axil placentation it differs from other. Plants of this family are known as lily family. Examples of plants are –Aloe, Lilium, Tulip etc.

Characteristics features of liliaceae are following:

1. Herbaceous plants (rarely are shrubs) having bulbs and the roots are contractile by nature.

2. Leaves are alternate or whorled along stem or in a basal resetter.

3. Simple parallel venation is observed in leaf.

4. Inflorescence are usually determinate in nature.

5. Flowers are bisexual as it contains both androecium (male reproductive part) and gynoecium (female reproductive part).

6. Flowers​ are usually radially symmetrical with six distinct petals, petaloid, imbricated and often with spots and lines.

7. This type of plants contains six stamens and pollen grains are monosulcate.

8. It contains six carpels which is connected with superior ovary and axil type of  placentation is observed.

9. Fruits are having loculicidal capsule with usually flat and disk shaped seeds.

10. Endosperms are oily by nature.

11. Nectars are produced at the base of petals.

12. Few of them may show secondary growth . Examples are- several arborescent species of , Aloe, Yucca exhibit secondary growth of monocots.

Types of liliaceae:

The family liliaceae can be subdivided into twelve divisions. They are-

Melanthioidae – Rhizome or bulb covered with scale leaves

Herrerioideae  - Have tubers, contain climbing stem with, inflorescence is small flower racemes.

Asphodeloideae – Rhizome with radical leaves and inflorescence spike.

Alliodeae – Bulb or short rhizome, inflorescence is cymose, umbel.

Lilioideae –  Contains bulb ,stem contains leaf.

Scilloideae –  Contains bulb, but stem leafless.

Asparagoideae – Rhizome subterranean.

Dracaenoideae – Stem are erect with leafy crown.

Ophiopogonoideae – Having short rhizome.

Aletrioideae – Short rhizome with having arrow or lanceolate radical leaves.

Luzuriagoideae – Shrubs or under shrubs with climbing twigs.

Smilacoideae – Shrubs with netvein leaves.

Economic importance of liliaceae:

I. Used as ornamental purpose -  Tulips (Tulipa), Fritiallary (Fritillaria), lilies (Lilium),Trout lilies (Erythronium), etc are included in this family. This are sed for decoration, ornamental purpose.

II. Used in medicine - A.vera, A.saponaria used as components of different medicine s.

III. Used as fibre yielding plant: some plants of this group are used in yielding fibre. They are Agave sisalana (Sisal, Bahama hemp), Sansevieria roxburghiana (bow string hemp), Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax).

IV. Used as cosmetics : hyacinth is yielded from Hyacinthus orientalis. Which is a perfume. Beside this A.vera ,Aloe humulis used as cosmetics.

V. Drimia maritima (Urginea maritima)is used as a cardiac stimulator and as rat poison.

VI. Resin can be extracted from some type of plants.

Question and answer of liliaceae family plants:

1. Name a plant of liliaceae which show reticulate venation.

Answer: Similax zeylamica, S.hispida .The genus itself has been placed in a separate family named Smilaceae (Cronquist 1981, Takhtajan 1997).