Asparagales
Sign in to saveAsparagales (asparagoid lilies) are a diverse order of flowering plants in the monocots. Under the APG IV system of flowering plant classification, Asparagales are the largest order of monocots with 14 families, 1,122 genera, and about 36,000 species, with members as varied as asparaguses, orchids, yuccas, irises, onions, garlics, leeks, and other alliums, daffodils, snowdrops, amaryllis, agaves, butcher's broom, agapanthuses, Solomon's seal, hyacinths, bluebells, spider plants, grasstrees, aloes, freesias, gladioli and crocuses.
AI overview
Asparagales are a huge group of flowering plants that includes some of the most familiar and useful species we know, from the asparagus and onions we eat to the orchids and irises we grow in gardens. This order is so large and diverse that it represents the biggest category of monocots (a major plant division) with over 36,000 species ranging from delicate flowers to sturdy succulents.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
ORDER
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassLiliopsida
- OrderAsparagales
Habitatfreshwater
via GBIF
Article
30 sectionsContents
- Description
- Taxonomy
- History
- Pre-Darwinian
- Post-Darwinian
- Twentieth century
- Phylogenetics
- Phylogeny and APG system
- Subdivision
- Changes to family structure in APG III
- Structure of Asparagales
- Orchid clade
- Boryaceae to Hypoxidaceae
- Ixioliriaceae to Xeronemataceae
- Asphodelaceae + 'core Asparagales'
- Evolution
- Comparison of family structures
- Uses
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Books
- Chapters
- Articles
- APG
- Historical sources
- Websites
- Reference materials
- External links
Asparagales (asparagoid lilies) are a diverse order of flowering plants in the monocots. Under the APG IV system of flowering plant classification, Asparagales are the largest order of monocots with 14 families, 1,122 genera, and about 36,000 species, with members as varied as asparaguses, orchids, yuccas, irises, onions, garlics, leeks, and other alliums, daffodils, snowdrops, amaryllis, agaves, butcher's broom, agapanthuses, Solomon's seal, hyacinths, bluebells, spider plants, grasstrees, aloes, freesias, gladioli and crocuses.
Most species of Asparagales are herbaceous perennials, although some are climbers and some are trees or shrubs. The order also contains many geophytes (bulbs, corms, and various kinds of tuber). The leaves of almost all species form a tight rosette, either at the base of the plant or at the end of the stem, but occasionally along the stem. The flowers are not particularly distinctive, being 'lily type', with six tepals and up to six stamens. One of the defining characteristics (synapomorphies) of the order is the presence of phytomelanin, a black pigment present in the seed coat, creating a dark crust. Phytomelanin is found in most families of the Asparagales (although not in Orchidaceae, thought to be the sister-group of the rest of the order).