Asparagaceae

Asparagaceae (/əsˌpærəˈɡeɪsiˌaɪ, -siːˌiː/), known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.[1] The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, Asparagus officinalis. This family includes both common garden plants as well as common houseplants. The garden plants include asparagus, yucca, bluebell, lily of the valley, and hosta, and the houseplants include snake plant, corn cane, spider plant, and plumosus fern.

The Asparagaceae is a morphologically heterogenous family with the included species varying widely in their appearance and growth form. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, with genera and species contained in the family native to all continents except Antarctica.[2][3]

## Contents

* 1 Taxonomy
* 1.1 Early taxonomy
* 1.2 Asparagaceae under the APG II system
* 1.3 Asparagaceae under the APG III system
* 2 Genera
* 2.1 Obsolete genera or species formerly included in the Asparagaceae
* 3 References
* 4 Bibliography
* 5 External links

## Taxonomy

### Early taxonomy

The plant family Asparagaceae was first named, described, and published in Genera Plantarum in 1789 by the French botanist Antoine Laurent de Jussieu, who is particularly noted for his work in developing the concept of plant families.[4] From the time of first introduction until the 21st century, the Asparagaceae was a monotypic family containing only the single genus, Asparagus, after which the family was named.[5]

### Asparagaceae under the APG II system

In 2003, the formation of the APG II plant classification system radically expanded the Asparagaceae to include the genera and species previously contained in seven plant families. In the APG II system, two options were provided as to the circumscription of the family, with Asparagaceae sensu lato (meaning in the wider sense) being the broader circumscription of the family documented in the APG II; or, Asparagaceae sensu stricto (meaning in the strict sense) consisting of only Asparagus and Hemiphylacus. If opting to use Asparagaceae sensu lato, the paper outlining the APG II system recommended placing the previously recognised family in parentheses after Asparagaceae.[6] The paper also recommended including grouping the families Anemarrhenaceae, Anthericaeae, Behniaceae and Herreriaceae with the Agavaceae, noting that in 2000, the Convallariaceae, Dracaenaceae, Eriospermaceae and Nolinaceae had been grouped together in the Ruscaceae.[6][7]

Asparagaceae under the APG II system[6] Family  | Previously recognised families optionally included in APG II  | Notes

|
|

Asparagaceae

(sensu lato)

| Agavaceae  | Includes:[6]

Anemarrhenaceae Anthericaeae Behniaceae Herreriaceae

Aphyllanthaceae  |
Asparagaceae (sensu stricto)  |
Hyacinthaceae  |
Laxmanniaceae  |
Ruscaceae  | Includes:[7]

Convallariaceae Dracaenaceae Eriospermaceae Nolinaceae

Themidaceae  |

### Asparagaceae under the APG III system

In 2009, botanists proposed a major revision of the Asparagales order of plants, that included a vast expansion of three constituent plant families; the Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae, to include large number of genera in former plant families by placing them into subfamilies nested within these three plant families. Under the APG III system, the Asparagaceae contain seven subfamilies, and unlike the APG II system, Asparagaceae was only circumscribed in the broad sense (sensu lato), but the Asparagaceae subfamily Asparagoideae is roughly equivalent to Asparagaceae (sensu stricto) under the APG II system.[8] Whilst the subfamilies are broadly equivalent to the previous subdivision by families under the APG II system, genera previously included in one previously recognised family may have moved to another subfamily under the APG III system, or even placed into another family outside of the Asparagaceae.[citation needed]

Asparagaceae under the APG III system[8] Family  | Subfamily  | Previous subdivision under the APG II system

|
|

Asparagaceae | Agavoideae | Agavaceae
Aphyllanthoideae | Aphyllanthaceae
Asparagoideae | Asparagaceae (sensu stricto)
Scilloideae | Hyacinthaceae
Lomandroideae | Laxmanniaceae
Convallarioideae (formerly Nolinoideae[9])  | Ruscaceae
Brodiaeoideae | Themidaceae

## Genera

As of July 2025, the family Asparagaceae includes 126 genera;[10][11] and these genera contain approximately 3,170 accepted species altogether,[11] although the number of accepted genera and their constituent species varies depending on authority and changes with time. The reference against the subfamily name is to the source which places the genus in that subfamily. (References may use the former subfamily name Nolinoideae rather than Convallarioideae.)

Asparagaceae genera[12] Subfamily  | Genus

|

Lomandroideae[13] | Acanthocarpus Lehm.
Agavoideae[14] | Agave L.
Scilloideae[15] | Albuca L. (sometimes included in Ornithogalum[15])
Scilloideae[15] | Alrawia (Wendelbo) Perss. & Wendelbo
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Androstephium Torr.
Agavoideae[14] | Anemarrhena Bunge
Agavoideae[14] | Anthericum L.
Aphyllanthoideae[14] | Aphyllanthes L.
Lomandroideae[14] | Arthropodium R.Br.
Asparagoideae[14] | Asparagus Tourn. ex L.
Convallarioideae[14] | Aspidistra Ker Gawl. (including Antherolophus Gagnep., Colania Gagnep.)
Scilloideae | Autonoe (Webb & Berthel.) Speta
Scilloideae[15] | Barnardia Lindl.
Convallarioideae[15] | Beaucarnea Lem. (including Calibanus Rose.)
Agavoideae[14] | Behnia Didr.
Brodiaeoideae | Behria Greene
Scilloideae[15] | Bellevalia Lapeyr. (including Strangweja Bertol.)
Agavoideae[14] | Beschorneria Kunth
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Bessera Schult.f.
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Bloomeria Kellogg
Scilloideae[15] | Bowiea Harv. ex Hook.f. (Climbing Onion, Sea Onion)
Scilloideae[15] | Brimeura Salisb.
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Brodiaea Sm.
Agavoideae[14] | Camassia Lindl.
Lomandroideae[15] | Chamaexeros Benth.
Agavoideae[14] | Chlorogalum (Lindl.) Kunth
Agavoideae[14] | Chlorophytum Ker Gawl.
Agavoideae | Clara Kunth
Convallarioideae[14] | Comospermum Rauschert
Convallarioideae[14] | Convallaria L.
Lomandroideae[14] | Cordyline Comm. ex R.Br. (including Cohnia Kunth)
Convallarioideae[14] | Danae Medik.
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Dandya H.E.Moore
Convallarioideae[13] | Dasylirion Zucc.
Scilloideae[15] | Daubenya Lindl. (including Amphisiphon W.F.Barker, Androsiphon Schltr.)
Agavoideae[15] | Diamena Ravenna
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Dichelostemma Kunth (including Brevoortia, Stropholirion)
Lomandroideae[15] | Dichopogon Kunth (may be included in Arthropodium)
Agavoideae[15] | Diora Ravenna
Scilloideae[15] | Dipcadi Medik. (sometimes included in Ornithogalum[15])
Brodiaeoideae[15] | Dipterostemon Rydb.
Convallarioideae[15] | Disporopsis Hance
Agavoideae[15] | Diuranthera Hemsl.
Convallarioideae[14] | Dracaena Vand. ex L. (including Sansevieria Thunb)[16][17][18]
Scilloideae[15] | Drimia Jacq. (including Litanthus Harv., Rhadamanthus Salisb., Rhodocodon Baker, Schizobasis Baker, Sypharissa Salisb., Tenicroa Raf., Thuranthos C.H.Wright, Urginea Steinh., Urgineopsis Compton)
Scilloideae[15] | Drimiopsis Lindl. & Paxton (sometimes included in Ledebouria[15])
Agavoideae[14] | Echeandia Ortega
Agavoideae[14] | Echinoagave A.Vázquez, Rosales & García-Mor.
Agavoideae[13] | Eremocrinum M.E.Jones
Convallarioideae[14] | Eriospermum Jacq.
Scilloideae[15] | Eucomis L'Hér.
Lomandroideae[14] | Eustrephus R.Br.
Scilloideae | Fessia Speta
Agavoideae[13] | Furcraea Vent.
Scilloideae[15] | Galtonia Decne. (included in Ornithogalum L. by Plants of the World Online and other sources)
Agavoideae[15] | Hagenbachia Nees & Mart.
Agavoideae[14] | Hastingsia S.Watson
Asparagoideae[14] | Hemiphylacus S.Watson
Agavoideae[14] | Herreria Ruiz & Pav.
Agavoideae[14] | Herreriopsis H.Perrier
Agavoideae[15] | Hesperaloe Engelm. in S.Watson
Agavoideae[14] | Hesperocallis A.Gray
Agavoideae[15] | Hesperoyucca (Engelm.) Trel. (included in Yucca by some sources)
Convallarioideae[15] | Heteropolygonatum M.N.Tamura & Ogisu
Agavoideae | Hooveria D.W.Taylor & D.J.Keil
Agavoideae[14] | Hosta Tratt.
Scilloideae[15] | Hyacinthella Schur
Scilloideae[15] | Hyacinthoides Heist. ex Fabr. (including Endymion Dumort.)
Scilloideae[15] | Hyacinthus Tourn. ex L.
Brodiaeoideae | Jaimehintonia B.L.Turner
Scilloideae[15] | Lachenalia Jacq. ex Murray (including Brachyscypha Baker, Periboea Kunth, Polyxena Kunth)
Lomandroideae[14] | Laxmannia R.Br. (including Bartlingia F. Mueller)
Scilloideae[15] | Ledebouria Roth (including Resnova van der Merwe[15])
Scilloideae[15] | Leopoldia Parl. (included in Muscari Mill. by Plants of the World Online,[19] may be treated as Muscari subg. Leopoldia[20])
Agavoideae[14] | Leucocrinum Nutt. ex A.Gray
Convallarioideae[13] | Liriope Lour.
Lomandroideae[14] | Lomandra Labill. (including Xerotes R. Brown)
Convallarioideae[14] | Maianthemum F.H.Wigg. (including Oligobotrya Baker, Smilacina Desf.)
Agavoideae[13] | Manfreda Salisb. (included in Agave by some sources)
Scilloideae[15] | Massonia Thunb. ex Houtt. (including Neobakeria Schltr., Whiteheadia Harv.)
Scilloideae[15] | Merwilla Speta
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Milla Cav. (including Diphalangium)
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Muilla S.Watson ex Benth.
Scilloideae[15] | Muscari Mill. (including Botryanthus Kunth, and Pseudomuscari Garbari & Greuter)
Scilloideae | Muscarimia Kostel. ex Losinsk.
Scilloideae | Namophila U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Convallarioideae[14] | Nolina Michx.
Scilloideae | Occultia Stedje & Rulkens
Convallarioideae[14] | Ophiopogon Ker Gawl.
Scilloideae[15] | Ornithogalum L. (including Battandiera Maire, Elsiea F.M.Leight., Neopatersonia Schonl.)
Scilloideae[15] | Oziroe Raf. (including Fortunatia J.F.Macbr.)
Agavoideae[14] | Paleoagave A.Vázquez, Rosales & García-Mor.
Agavoideae[14] | Paraagave A.Vázquez, Rosales & García-Mor.
Agavoideae[14] | Paradisea Mazzuc.
Convallarioideae[14] | Peliosanthes Andrews
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Petronymphe H.E.Moore
Agavoideae[13] | Polianthes L. (included in Agave by some sources)
Convallarioideae[14] | Polygonatum Mill.
Agavoideae[15] | Prochnyanthes S.Watson
Scilloideae[15] | Prospero Salisb.
Scilloideae[15] | Pseudogaltonia (Kuntze) Engl. (sometimes included in Ornithogalum[15])
Scilloideae | Pseudolachenalia G.D.Duncan
Scilloideae[15] | Pseudoprospero Speta
Scilloideae[15] | Puschkinia Adams
Convallarioideae[15] | Reineckea Kunth
Scilloideae | Resnova van der Merwe
Convallarioideae[15] | Rohdea Roth (including Campylandra Baker and Gonioscypha Baker)
Lomandroideae[15] | Romnalda P.F.Stevens
Convallarioideae[14] | Ruscus L.
Scilloideae[15] | Schizocarphus van der Merwe
Agavoideae[14] | Schoenolirion Durand
Scilloideae[15] | Scilla L. (including Chionodoxa Boiss.)
Convallarioideae[14] | Semele Kunth
Lomandroideae[15] | Sowerbaea Sm.
Convallarioideae[14] | Speirantha Baker
Scilloideae[15] | Spetaea Wetschnig & Pfosser
Convallarioideae[15] | Theropogon Maxim.
Lomandroideae[14] | Thysanotus R.Br. (including Murchisonia Brittan)
Lomandroideae[15] | Trichopetalum Lindl. (including Bottinaea Colla)
Agavoideae | Trihesperus Herb.
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Triteleia Douglas ex Lindl. (including Hesperoscordium, Themis)
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Triteleiopsis Hoover
Convallarioideae[14] | Tupistra Ker Gawl. (including Tricalistra Ridl.)
Scilloideae[15] | Veltheimia Gled.
Lomandroideae[14] | Xerolirion A.S.George
Brodiaeoideae[14] | Xochiquetzallia J.Gut
Agavoideae[14] | Yucca L. (including Samuela Trel.)
Scilloideae | Zagrosia Speta

### Obsolete genera or species formerly included in the Asparagaceae

Calibanus was a former genus that was placed in the Asparagaceae (Convallarioideae subfamily) when the APG III system was introduced.[21] Both members of the genus have since been transferred to the genus Beaucarnea (also a member of the Asparagaceae (Convallarioideae subfamily)) after molecular phylogenetic research demonstrated a strong phylogenetic relationship with species of Beaucarnea.[22][23]

Sansevieria was a long recognised genus belonging to the Convallarioideae subfamily but on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies,[24][25][17] the species formerly including as belonging to the genus have been transferred to the genus Dracaena (also included in the Noliniodeae subfamily).[16][17][18]

## References

1. ↑ Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (2009), "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 105–121, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x
2. ↑ Bramley, Gemma; Trias-Blasi, Anna; Wilford, Richard (2023). The Kew temperate plant families identification handbook. Kew, United Kingdom: Kew publishing, Royal botanic gardens. ISBN 978-1-84246-772-5.
3. ↑ "Asparagaceae Juss. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30275682-2/general-information.
4. ↑ Asparagaceae Juss., Gen. Pl. [Jussieu] 40 (1789), nom. cons. International Plant Name Index, IPNI.org
5. ↑ Kubitzki, K.; Rudall, P. J. (1998), Kubitzki, Klaus, ed., "Asparagaceae" (in en), Flowering Plants · Monocotyledons: Lilianae (except Orchidaceae) (Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer): pp. 125–129, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-03533-7_15, ISBN 978-3-662-03533-7, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-03533-7_15, retrieved 2024-11-29
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (4): 399–436. April 2003. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.t01-1-00158.x. ISSN 0024-4074. https://herbarium.duke.edu/sites/herbarium.duke.edu/files/assets/GROUP_2003_Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.pdf.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rudall, PAULA J.; Conran, JOHN G.; Chase, MARK W. (2000-09-01). "Systematics of Ruscaceae/Convallariaceae: a combined morphological and molecular investigation". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 134 (1): 73–92. doi:10.1006/bojl.2000.0365. ISSN 0024-4074. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024407400903656.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chase, Mark W.; Reveal, James L.; Fay, Michael F. (October 2009). "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132–136. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x. ISSN 0024-4074. https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article-abstract/161/2/132/2418404?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
9. ↑ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "7. Convallarioideae Herbert". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
10. ↑ "Asparagaceae Juss. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30275682-2.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Family Asparagaceae; WFO Plant List | World Flora Online". https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-7000000050-2024-06?page=1.
12. ↑ WCSP (2011), World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/home.do, retrieved 2011-05-25
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Stevens, P.F., Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/, retrieved 2011-05-29
14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 14.21 14.22 14.23 14.24 14.25 14.26 14.27 14.28 14.29 14.30 14.31 14.32 14.33 14.34 14.35 14.36 14.37 14.38 14.39 14.40 14.41 14.42 14.43 14.44 14.45 14.46 14.47 14.48 14.49 14.50 14.51 14.52 14.53 14.54 14.55 14.56 14.57 Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L.; Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
15. ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 15.22 15.23 15.24 15.25 15.26 15.27 15.28 15.29 15.30 15.31 15.32 15.33 15.34 15.35 15.36 15.37 15.38 15.39 15.40 15.41 15.42 15.43 15.44 15.45 15.46 15.47 15.48 15.49 15.50 15.51 15.52 15.53 15.54 "Query GRIN Taxonomy for Plants". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxfam.pl.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Sansevieria Thunb. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331280-2.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Takawira-Nyenya, Ratidzayi; Thiede, Joachim; Mucina, Ladislav (2021-11-09). "New nomenclatural and taxonomic adjustments in Dracaena (Asparagaceae)" (in en). Phytotaxa 524 (4): 293–300. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.524.4.5. ISSN 1179-3163. Bibcode: 2021Phytx.524..293T. https://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.524.4.5.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Ghoshal, P.P., Chakrabarty, T., Kumar, A. & Dey, S. (2021). Conspectus of the genus Dracaena (Asparagaceae) in the Indo-Burmese region. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 45: 20-32.
19. ↑ "Leopoldia Parl.". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331226-2.
20. ↑ Böhnert, Tim; Neumann, Michael; Quandt, Dietmar; Weigend, Maximilian (2023). "Phylogeny based generic reclassification of Muscari sensu lato (Asparagaceae) using plastid and genomic DNA". Taxon 72 (2): 261–277. doi:10.1002/tax.12864. Bibcode: 2023Taxon..72..261B.
21. ↑ Calibanus. Kew Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:297730-2
22. ↑ Molecular phylogenetics and morphology of Beaucarnea (Ruscaceae) as distinct from Nolina, and the submersion of Calibanus into Beaucarnea (2014). Rojas-Piña, V., Olson, M.E., Alvarado-Cárdenas, L.O. & Eguiarte, L.E.. Taxon 63: 1193-1211. [Cited as Beaucarnea.]
23. ↑ "Beaucarnea Lem. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:24038-1.
24. ↑ Stevens, P.F. (2001–2012), Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Convallarioideae, http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/orders/asparagalesweb.htm#Ruscaceae
25. ↑ Lu, Pei-Luen; Morden, Clifford W. (2014), "Phylogenetic Relationships among Dracaenoid Genera (Asparagaceae: Convallarioideae) Inferred from Chloroplast DNA Loci", Systematic Botany 39 (1): 90–104, doi:10.1600/036364414X678035

## Bibliography

* Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L.; Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
* Pires, J. C.; Sytsma, K. J. (1 August 2002). "A phylogenetic evaluation of a biosystematic framework: Brodiaea and related petaloid monocots (Themidaceae)". American Journal of Botany 89 (8): 1342–1359. doi:10.3732/ajb.89.8.1342. PMID 21665737.

## External links

* Asparagaceae [sensu stricto] in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval. Version: 27 April 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20070103200438/http://delta-intkey.com/
* Liliaceae in Flora of North America
* NCBI Taxonomy Browser [Asparagaceae sensu stricto]
* links at CSDL, Texas
* Asparagaceae in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database

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