Lilaceae Family are commonly called the ‘Lily family’ is a characteristic representative of monocotyledonous plants. It is distributed worldwide (Figure).
Vegetative characters: Perennial herbs with underground bulbs/corns/ rhizomes
Leaves: mostly basal, alternate, linear, exstipulate with parallel venation
Figure: Allium cepa (onion) plant: (a) Plant (b) Inflorescence (c) Flower (d) Floral diagram
Floral characters:
Inflorescence: solitary / cymose: often umbellate clusters
Flower: bisexual: actinomorphic.
Perianth: tepal six (3+3), often united into tube: valvate aestivation
Androcium: stamen six, (3+3)
Gynoecium: tricarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior, trilocular with many ovules; axile placentation.
Fruit: capsule, rarely berry
Seed: endospermous
Economic Importance
Many plants belonging to this family are good ornamentals (tulip, Gloriosa), source of medicine (Aloe), vegetables (Asparagus) and colchicine (Colchicum autumnale).
