Hyacinthaceae

Abstract

Mostly bulbous plants, rarely (Schoenolirion and Chlorogalum) rhizomatic. Bulbs subterraneous or epigeal, formed by thickened cataphylls and/or foliage leaf bases, sometimes with intercalated nonstoring cataphylls. Scales in adult bulbs basally vaginate, imbricate, or more or less connate. Foliage leaves 1-many, rarely (Bowiea, Schizo-basis) lacking in the adult bulb, spirally or more rarely distichously arranged, all forming part of the bulb, filiform to elliptic or circular, very rarely (Ledebouria petiolata, L. rupestris, Drimiopsis) petiolate, grooved or more rarely flat or terete. Leaf blades shed after 2–8 months at a preformed area at the apex of the bulb. Raphide cells and mucilage in all tissues copiously present. Feeding roots functioning for 8–12 months, the thicker ones often branched; contractile roots often present and thicker than the feeding roots; storage roots rarely present (Ledebouria). Inflorescence scapose, an (open) simple raceme or rarely a spike, rarely a compound raceme, very rarely more strongly branched (Bowiea, Schizobasis),varying in length, bearing 1-hundreds of flowers. Bracts of varying shape and size, sometimes lacking. Prophylls present or lacking. Flowers not articulated from the pedicel (except Chlorogaleae), hermaphrodite, hypogynous, trimerous, actinomorphic or rarely zygomorphic; the (pseudo-) terminal flowers often sterile and sometimes of different shape and coloration. Tepals 3 + 3, free or more or less connate, white, blue, red, yellow, brownish or greenish, inner and outer usually ± equal in shape, position, and color. Stamens 3 + 3, with sometimes 1 sterile whorl, of various shape, sometimes appendaged, the filaments sometimes connate at the base, or rarely forming a para-corolla. Anthers introrse, epipeltate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary superior to rarely (Bowiea) hemi-inferior. Pistil syncarpous, tricarpellate, ± trilocular, with innerseptal nectaries (Autonoë excepted). Style with a simple stigma, sometimes thickened, the stigma Wet or Dry; ovules anatropous, bitegmic, crassinucellar, in each locule 2 ovules superjacent, or 1 or 2 side by side, or several to numerous in 1 or 2 rows or disordered. Capsule ± wide loculicidally opening, with the locules separating ventrally as well, dry or fleshy. Seeds spherical, ellipsoidic, drop-shaped, rounded or flattened and angular, sometimes alate, yellow, brown or black, rarely pink.

Translation by H.-H. Poppendieck