| Family: | Liliaceae |
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| Common name: | lily family [Zomlefer, pp. 270-273] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 16 genera; 635 species U.S.: 9 genera PNW (Oregon Flora Project): 9 genera |
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It once had as many as 3,500 species in 250 genera. Liliaceae s.l. is now split among 10 (or more) families placed in two orders. |
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| Flower | |
|---|---|
K3 Co3 S6 P(ol).GIF) |
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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, single style, often splitting into three stigmatic lobes, superior ovary (=hypogynous), axile placentation, numerous ovules |
| Fruit: | capsule or berry |
| Other features: | tepals often have spots/lines, with nectar at tepal base |
| Vegetative Features | |
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| Leaves: | alternate, simple, linear, fleshy in some |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | herbs,with underground storage organs (bulbs and rhizomes) |
| Distribution & Ecology: | cosmopolitan |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Calochortus, Mariposa lily Erythronium, avalanche/fawn lily Fritillaria, checker lily Lilium, lily Prosartes, fairy lantern |
| Economic Importance | |
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| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | many garden ornamentals Lilium, lily Tulipa, tulip |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Liliaceae Calochortus |
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| Liliaceae Erythronium |
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| Liliaceae Lilium |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
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