Page Last Updated September 8, 2026.
Introduction to the Asparagaceae Family
Welcome to the newly expanded Asparagaceae family! This one was a lot of work and fun to put together since my previous descriptions had split the family into several smaller families, but APG IV is saying that they now all belong together, based on modern phylogenetics.
Still, because the subfamilies can vary so much, I have kept much of my more detailed botanical information (see Scientific Botanical Description) separate to help you identify more at the subfamily level since the family level is so diverse and hard to characterize at that level.
Beginner’s Guide to the Asparagus (Asparagaceae) Family
If you’re new to plant morphology, this guide is a perfect beginner’s description for learning to identify the Asparagaceae family, with no need to know any scientific jargon. Below this section are morphology photos to help you identify the family, followed by pictures of individual species found in North America. But for researchers or those wanting to learn a more in-depth version, refer to the Scientific Botanical Description below the images for highly detailed scientific descriptions and genus-level distribution data.
Leaves and Stems of the Asparagus Family
There is tremendous diversity ranging from small perennial herbs from rhizomes or bulbs to vines, shrubs, and tree-like forms. Leaves vary from scale-like (with photosynthesis occurring in stems instead) to large, but they are often narrow and crowded into basal or terminal rosettes.
Flowers of the Asparagus Family
Flowers are usually rather small but can be showy, and they may appear singly but more often appear in dense spikes or branched inflorescences. They usually contain both male (stamens) and female (ovary, style, and stigma) parts in the same flower (bisexual). The flower is made of 6 usually petal-like tepals in 2 whorls, which may be free or partly fused into a tube.
Reproductive Features of the Asparagus Family
There are almost always 6 stamens, which are usually free of one another, and there is usually a single terminal style on top of the ovary.
Fruits of the Asparagus Family
Fruits are either fleshy berries or dry capsules that split apart at maturity to release their seeds.
Morphology of Asparagaceae in North America
Agavoideae Subfamily Morphology in North America
Brodiaeoideae Subfamily Morphology in North America
Convallarioideae Subfamily Morphology in North America
Some Species of Asparagaceae Found in North America
Agavoideae Subfamily
Agave americana—Century Plant
Agave americana is a well-known Asparagaceae member that is often cultivated in xeriscape gardens, which is why this former southern North American endemic (USA and Mexico) is now widely introduced around the world. It is known for its massive basal rosette of huge spiny-edged and spiny-tipped blue-green leaves.
Agave parryi ssp neomexicana—New Mexico Agave
New Mexico agave is my favorite agave by far, with its cool geometric leaf pattern that always looks so perfect and its spiny-edged green or blue-green leaves with long spiny tips. It is a narrow subspecies found in New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico in the Chihuahua Desert.
Camassia quamash—Common Camas
The common cama may not look like most Agavoideae since it’s herbaceous and has showy blue or purple flowers, but when you see it in fruit, they certainly resemble agave capsules. This beauty is native to BC and Alberta, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest in the USA, south to California.
Yucca baccata—Banana Yucca
Many yuccas have no trunks like this one and instead produce basal groups of leaves with inflorescence stalks coming up from their center. Yucca flowers are typically very large and creamy white, like these. The “banana” part comes from its large, banana-shaped capsules it produces.
Yucca brevifolia—Joshua Tree
Still other yuccas form “trunks” that allow them to get taller, like soap tree yucca, Torrey’s yucca, and this Joshua tree, which is definitely the world’s tallest yucca. It is also becoming increasingly rare in its range due to climate change. It is native to California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona in the USA and also in northwestern Mexico.
Brodiaeoideae Subfamily
Triteleia grandiflora—Largeflower Triteleia
This beautiful herbaceous plant was growing in a moist ditch on the side of the road. Its leaves are grass-like and blended in with the grass it was growing with, but it produces the most gorgeous umbels of tubular purple flowers.
Convallarioideae Subfamily
Dasylirion wheeleri—Sotol
This iconic desert species has a dense basal rosette of sword-like leaves and produces massive inflorescences of rather small cream-colored flowers. This is another species in decline due to unethical harvesting, climate change, and very slow growth. It is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as well as northern Mexico.
Nolina greenei—Woodland Beargrass
Don’t let the common name fool you; this clumpy native with grass-like leaves and showy inflorescences of small flowers is mostly found in the plains or very open woodlands. It is a narrow US endemic found only in Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Maianthemum dilatatum—False Lily of the Valley
This gorgeous plant loves moist forests where it grows as an understory plant and groundcover. It has large heart-shaped leaves and small spike-like racemes of small white flowers. It is native to western North America from Alaska south along the Pacific to California.
Maianthemum racemosum—False Solomon’s Seal
This is one of the most common forest plants I find in this subfamily, as its native to almost all of Canada, the USA, and northern Mexico. It produces large, alternate leaves with parallel veins and somewhat dense terminal panicles of small white star-shaped flowers.
Polygonatum biflorum—Smooth Solomon’s Seal
The Polygonatum are often confused with Maianthemum because of their leaves, but these have bell-shaped flowers that hang down from the leaf axils beneath the plant instead of in terminal inflorescences. It is native throughout eastern North America.
Scillidoideae Subfamily
Hyacinthoides hispanica—Spanish Bluebell
This pretty herbaceous and bulbaceous perennial has a strap-shaped basal rosette of leaves and inflorescences of pretty purple bell flowers. Like most Scillidoideae members, however, it is not native but has escaped cultivation in the northwest and northeast of North America.
Uses of the Asparagus Family
There are numerous cultivated ornamentals from the Agavoideae, Convallarioideae, and Scillioideae subfamilies grown for their striking flowers or evergreen foliage.
Culinary asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) and agave sap for the production of alcohol and syrup are of major economic importance.
Many Agave and Yucca species are also used for fibers, mostly locally, but some are used commercially on a small scale.
Ecosystem and Wildlife Values of Asparagaceae
As a diverse family with many species, the Asparagaceae provide significant ecosystem services, especially in arid, coastal, and marginal habitats, providing food (nectar, foliage, and fruits) for various wildlife. They create microhabitats for beneficial insects and pollinators, and many species are drought-tolerant, making them useful for soil stabilization in arid habitats. However, some species can become aggressive and invasive outside their native range and degrade native habitats.
Taxonomy of the Asparagaceae Family
There are now approximately 2,595 to 2,900 species in 153 genera of the Asparagaceae family, which is part of the Asparagales order of non-commelinid monocots. Not that long ago, the Asparagaceae family had only 2 genera, but it has been expanded to include 7 subfamilies described below. This is one of those families that, as a whole, are difficult to characterize.
As the taxonomy of this family is still under debate, a few genera are currently listed in more than one subfamily because I (and APG IV) am uncertain where to place them. This section will be updated when new information comes available and the sources start to agree more.
Agavoideae Subfamily
The Agavoideae subfamily—formerly the Agavaceae family—has about 25 genera and 637 species that are pantropical, subtropical, and rarely southern temperate, with the majority found in SW North America. They are herbs, shrubs, or arborescent, with a basal aggregation of leaves and flowers in large, much-branched panicles.
Genera of the Agavoideae Subfamily
Agave (230), Anemarrhena (1), Anthericum (8), Behnia (1), Beschorneria (10), Camassia (6), Chlorogalum (3-5), Chlorophytum (216), Diamena (1), Diora (1), Echeandia (85), Echinoagave (12), Furcraea (26), Hagenbachia (6), Hastingsia (4), Herreria (8), Herreriopsis (1), Hesperaloe (8), Hesperocallis (1), Hesperoyucca (2), Hosta (30), Leucocrinum (1), Paleoagave (1), Paraagave (1), Paradisea (2), Schoenolirion (3), Yucca (54).
Aphyllanthoideae Subfamily
This tiny subfamily consists of a single species endemic to the western Mediterranean. It is easy to recognize because it has tufts of photosynthetic, scapose inflorescences and scarious, non-photosynthetic leaves at their bases.
Genera of the Aphyllanthoideae Subfamily
Monospecific Aphyllanthes monspeliensis (W Mediterranean).
Asparagoideae Subfamily
The Asparagoideae only contains 2 genera, but over 220 species are found mostly in Africa, Europe, and Asia but also Australia and the Pacific Islands, and one genus is native to Mexico. They are herbs or shrubs that often climb and are easy to recognize by their very reduced leaves using photosynthetic stems (cladodes and/or phylloclades) instead.
Genera of the Asparagoideae Subfamily
Asparagus (211), Hemiphylacus (5).
Brodiaeoideae Subfamily
The Brodiaeoideae is a small subfamily of about 12 genera and 62 species found in SW North America from British Columbia, Canada, south to Guatemala. They look very similar to wild onions with umbels of small flowers and a superior ovary, but they have corms and do not smell of onions.
Genera of the Brodiaeoideae Subfamily
Androstephium (2), Bessera (4), Bloomeria (3), Brodiaea (18), Dandya (1), Dichelostemma (4), Milla (16), Muilla (4), Petronymphe (2), Triteleia (16), Triteleiopsis (1).
Convallarioideae Subfamily
The Convallarioideae is a large subfamily of 605 species in 26 genera found in North America, Central America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and northern Australia. They can usually be differentiated fairly easily from the rest of the family by being mostly herbs (except Dracaena, which may also be shrubs or trees) and having well-developed leaves and inflorescences that are typically not scapiflorous.
Genera of the Convallarioideae Subfamily
Aspidistra (251), Beaucarnea (13), Comospermum (1), Convallaria (3), Danae (1), Dasylirion (23), Disporopsis (11), Dracaena (224), Eriospermum (114), Heteropolygonatum (13), Liriope (9), Maianthemum (40), Nolina (35), Ophiopogon (92), Peliosanthes (81), Polygonatum (78), Reineckea (2), Rohdea (34), Ruscus (6), Semele (3), Speirantha (1), Theropogon (1), Tupistra (39).
Lomandroideae Subfamily
The Lomandroideae is a subfamily of approximately 200 species in 12 genera that are mostly Australian, but with some also in Asia, Madagascar, and South America. They are mostly tough perennial herbs, with some shrubs.
Genera of the Lomandroideae Subfamily
Acanthocarpus (7), Arthropodium (16), Chamaexeros (4), Cordyline (24), Eustrephus (1), Laxmannia (13), Lomandra (69), Romnalda (4), Sowerbaea (5), Thysanotus (59), Trichopetalum (2).
Scilloideae Subfamily
The Scilloideae is a large subfamily of about 996 species in 37 genera found in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia, with one genus found in South America. They are bulbous geophytes with scapose inflorescences.
Genera of the Scilloideae Subfamily
Albuca (172), Alrawia (2), Bellevalia (81), Bowiea (1), Brimeura (3), Daubenya (8), Dipcadi (43), Drimia (130), Eucomis (14), Hooveria (2), Hyacinthella (18), Hyacinthoides (12), Hyacinthus (3), Lachenalia (141), Ledebouria (70), Massonia (33), Merwilla (3), Muscari (85), Namophila (1), Occultia (2), Ornithogalum (220), Oziroe (5), Pseudolachenalia (1), Pseudoprospero (1), Puschkinia (7), Schizocarphus (1), Scilla (86), Spetaea (1), Veltheimia (2).
Key Differences From Similar Families
Because the Asparagaceae is itself so diverse, it makes it challenging to compare the family with other families and make generalizations. Still, they are sometimes confused with Amaryllidaceae, especially the Allioideae, because they have 6 stamens and a superior ovary, but the Allioideae mostly produce flowers in umbels and nearly always release onion or garlic compounds when bruised, while the rest of the Amaryllidaceae have an inferior ovary.
They are also sometimes confused with some members of the Liliaceae with their superior ovaries and lack of onion scents, but there are no phytomelanin compounds present on their brown or pale seeds, and the nectaries are located at the tepal base.
Scientific Botanical Description of the Asparagaceae Family
Since the new broader Asparagaceae has been greatly expanded and my previous descriptions covered 4 families, plus one I had not covered, I am keeping the information I have on subfamilies separate. Since the subfamilies are more morphologically distinct, while the family as a whole is not, I feel that keeping them separate allows for better, more useful comparisons than if I were to rewrite them lumped together. So I will begin each section with the traits they have in common, followed by how the major subfamilies differ.
Habit & Leaf Form of the Asparagaceae Family
The plants of the Aspargaceae are always perennial when they are herbs, with most coming from rhizomes. Leaves vary in size from minimal to quite large but are always arranged alternately. The lamina is always entire, the margins are almost always entire, and the leaves are mostly sessile and sheathing with free margins. The leaves are mostly parallel-veined and lack cross-venules and stipules.
Agavoideae Habit and Leaves
These are xerophytic herbs, shrubs, or arborescent pachycaul trees, rarely epiphytic. They may be succulent and typically have basal or terminal aggregations of leaves of variable size that are simple, alternate spiral, flat or terete, and leathery, fleshy, or both. Blades may be borne normally or edgewise to the stem and are lanceolate, linear, or subulate. Lamina margins may be entire or serrated, often sharp-pointed with lateral and terminal spines.
Asparagoideae Habit and Leaves
Mostly switch plants that photosynthesize through stems (axillary clusters of cladodes) while the leaves are reduced to small bract-like features or membranous scales, but they are still more or less sheathing. They are perennial herbs from rhizomes, self-supporting or climbing vines, or shrubs.
Brodiaeoideae Habit and Leaves
Herbs with basal aggregations of linear leaves that may be fleshy and often appear similar to Amaryllidaceae-Allioideae plants, but they never smell of onions and come from fibrous corms rather than bulbs.
Convallarioideae Habit and Leaves
Mesophytic subfamily of mostly herbs with well-developed leaves, with or without a basal aggregation. Dracaena are also often shrubs or trees. Stems are fibrous and do not break easily at the nodes, and they may come from either rhizomatous or tuberous roots. Leaves are alternate and spiral or distichous, herbaceous or leathery, and petiolate to sessile. Leaves are often lanceolate, oblong, or ovate, and they have varying veination that may be palmately, parallel, or pinnately veined and may also have cross-venules. Leaf bases are cordate, attenuate, cuneate, or oblique. Leaves are flat with entire margins.
Scilloideae Habit and Leaves
These are mesophytic herbs with a basal aggregation of leaves (occasionally only two), but they are mostly bulbaceous with only some rhizomatous (Chlorogalum, Schoenolirion). Leaves are usually alternate spiral or alternate distichous when reduced to two. Leaves are simple, with blades normally oriented. The lamina is entire and mostly linear but rarely ovate or orbicular.
Flowers of the Asparagaceae Family
Most Asparagaceae flowers are hermaphrodites, and floral nectaries with secretion from the gynoecium via septal nectaries are virtually always present. The perianth is always made of tepals, which are almost always 6 in number, free or joined, isomerous, and 2-whorled and usually similar in the 2 whorls. Flowers are always 3-merous, and the perigone tube may be present or absent.
Agavoideae Flowers
Plants may sometimes be andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, or dioecious. Flowers are aggregated in large, branched terminal panicles that may be scapiflorous or not. Flowers are bracteate, regular to somewhat zygomorphic, pentacyclic, with a petaloid perianth.
Brodiaeoideae Flowers
The inflorescence is almost always an umbel, rarely a single flower, and it is terminal and scapiflorous, typically with 2-4 or up to 10 inflorescence bracts. Flowers are regular and typically united into a tube with 6 lobes; they are often purple or bluish-violet in color.
Asparagoideae Flowers
Sometimes flowers are monoecious, dioecious, or polygamomonoecious, with female flowers having staminodes. Flowers may be solitary or aggregated in cymes, racemes, or umbels and typically emerge from a spathe-like bract. Flowers are small, regular, and cyclic. A hypogynous disk is absent. The perianth may be sepaloid or petaloid, green, white, or yellow.
Convallarioideae Flowers
Flowers are usually aggregated in cymose or racemose inflorescences, sometimes panicles, scapiflorous or not, terminal or axillary, and may appear singly but always lack a spathe. Flowers are small to medium, regular, 3(4)-merous, and pentacyclic. A perigone tube is usually present (campanulate or urceolate). The perianth is petaloid, usually 6 but sometimes 8 (4+4), in white, greenish, or rarely other colors.
Scilloideae Flowers
Plants are sometimes polygammonocious. Flowers are aggregated in scapiflorous racemose racemes, spikes, and heads. Flowers are bracteate (at least in the lower inflorescence), small to medium in size, usually regular but may be variously irregular, and are pentacyclic. The perigone tube is usually present (usually campanulate, urceolate, or tubular). The perianth is petaloid and may be similar or different in the two whorls, in white, yellow, red, violet, blue, brown, or black.
Androecium of the Asparagaceae Family
The Asparagaceae almost always have 6 androecial members, usually 6 fertile stamens, usually diplostemonous, usually free of one another, and usually 2 whorled. Anthers are dorsifixed or basifixed, dehiscing via longitudinal slits, and are usually introrse.
Agavoideae Androecium
6 members are adnate to or free from the perianth. Exclusively fertile stamens or 3 stamens + 3 staminodes; isomerous or diplostemonous. Anthers are always dorsifixed.
Asparagoideae Androecium
Exclusively fertile in male and hermaphrodite flowers with stamens adnate to the base of the perianth.
Brodiaeoideae Androecium
There may be 6 fertile stamens or 3 alternating with 3 staminodes; all are adnate to the perianth. Anthers are always basifixed.
Convallariodeae Androecium
Rarely there are 8 or 4 androecial members instead of the usual 6; they are exclusively fertile stamens, and they are free of the perianth or often are inserted high in the tube. They may be equal or unequal, free from one another, or coherent 1-adelphous in Peliosanthes. Anthers are usually basifixed or dorsifixed (Reineckea).
Scilloideae Androecium
Usually 6 in 2 whorls but sometimes reduced to 3 members in 1 whorl (e.g., Albuca). Members may be free or adnate to the tube. The androecium occasionally contains 3 staminodes external to the fertile stamens. Filaments are often broad and flat and may be appendiculate by lobes on either side of the anther. Anthers are dorsifixed (epipeltate).
Gynoecium of the Asparagaceae Family
The gynoecium is virtually always 3-carpeled, isomerous with the perianth, and the pistil is virtually always 3-celled, and the ovary is virtually always 3-locular with axile placentation. There is usually a single terminal style.
Agavoideae Gynoecium
The gynoecium is syncarpous, superior to inferior. Stigmas are wet or dry types, papillate, and Group II, III, or IV types. Ovules 6–50 per locule; anatropous; crassinucellate.
Asparagoideae Gynoecium
The gynoecium is synstylovarious to syncarpous and superior. The style is often rather short, and a stylar canal is present. Stigmas are of the wet or dry type. Ovules are 2–12 per locule; they are non-arillate, crassinucellate, and hemianatropous, anatropous, or orthotropous.
Brodiaeoideae Gynoecium
The ovary is always superior.
Convallarioideae Gynoecium
There may sometimes be 4 carpels, 4-celled pistils, and 4-locular ovaries, but these are rare. The gynoecium is syncarpous, superior to inferior, and may or may not be stylate with a stylar canal present. Stigma 1, capitate or lobulate, dry type, and papillate. Placentation may be basal, axile, or apical with 2-4 ovules per locule; anatropous to campylotropous; and mostly crassinucellate or rarely pseudocrassinucellate.
Scillioideae Gynoecium
The gynoecium is syncarpous and superior and may be stylate or not. When present, styles are attenuated from the ovary or from a depression at the top of the ovary; the stylar canal is present. Stigmas are 1 or 3 in number, of wet or dry type, and papillate. Ovules 2–50 per locule, usually non-arillate (except in Lachenalia), anatropous, bitegmic, and crassinucellate or pseudocrassinucellate.
Fruit of the Asparagaceae Family
The fruits may be dehiscent capsules (always Scillioideae and Brodiaeoideae) or indehiscent berries (always Asparagoideae, usually Convallarioideae). Seeds are always endospermic and oily, and the testa is almost always encrusted with phytomelan in Agavoideae, Brodiaeoideae, and Scillioideae but not in Convallarioideae (unsure about Asparagoideae).
Global Distribution of the Asparagaceae
Under this broader definition, the Asparagaceae are temperate, subtropical, and pantropical and are especially widespread in the Old World.
In the American continents, the Asparagaceae are still widely spread, found from Canada south through the USA, Mexico, Central America, and into southern South America.
Distribution of the Asparagaceae in the Americas
Canadian Asparagaceae Genera
Agavoideae in Canada
Camassia 3 spp. native to BC, AB, and ON; Hosta 1 spp. intro to QC; Yucca 3 spp. native to AB and introduced to ON and SK.
Asparagoideae in Canada
Asparagus 1 sp. intro in all southern provinces except Labrador.
Brodiaeoideae in Canada
Brodiaea 1 sp. native to BC; Triteleia 2-3 spp. native to BC.
Convallarioideae in Canada
Convallaria 1 sp. intro ON, QC, SK, and NL Island; Maianthemum 6 spp. native in all of Canada, including the Arctic; Polygonatum 3 spp. native SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS.
Scilloideae in Canada
Hyacinthoides 3 spp. intro to BC, ON, NL (exc. Labrador); Muscari 3 spp. intro to BC, ON, NL (exc. Labrador); Ornithogalum 2 spp. intro BC, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL Island; Puschkinia 1 sp. intro to ON; Scilla 3 spp. intro to BC, QC, ON, NB.
USA Asparagaceae Genera
Agavoideae in the USA
Agave ~30 spp. (inc. Manfreda) native and intro CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, IL, IN, OH, VA, MD, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, and FL, and intro HI; Camassia 6 spp. native WA, OR, CA, NV, UT, ID, MT, WY, TX, OK, KS, IA, MO, AR, LA, WI, IL, IN, OH, MI, PA, MD, WV, VA, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, including 3 endemics; Chlorogalum 3-5 spp. endemic genera of OR, CA; Chlorophytum 2 spp. intro to CA, FL, GA; Echeandia 4 spp. native to AZ, NM, and TX (1 endemic); Furcraea 2 spp. native and intro to FL and intro to HI; Hastingsia 4 spp. endemic genera of OR, CA; Hesperaloe 2 spp. native to TX, including 1 endemic; Hesperocallis monospecific NAM endemic native in CA, NV, and AZ; Hesperoyucca 2 spp. inc. 1 endemic to CA and AZ; Hosta 4 spp. introduced to NE states; Leucocrinum monospecific W USA endemic exc. WA, OK, and TX; Schoenolirion 3 spp. endemic genera of TX, LA, AR, TN, NC, SC, AL, GA, and FL; Yucca 29 spp. native in most of the USA, except WA, OR, ID, MN, VT, NH, and ME.
Asparagoideae in the USA
Asparagus 4 spp. intro in all of the USA, inc. HI.
Brodiaeoideae in the USA
Androstephium 2 spp. SW USA endemic genera of CA, NV, UT, AZ, WY, CO, NM, KS, OK, TX; Bloomeria 2 spp. native, including 1 endemic to CA; Brodiaea 16 spp. native, including many endemics to WA, OR, CA; Dichelostemma 4-6 spp. W USA endemic genera of WA, OR, CA; Milla 1 sp. native to AZ, NM, TX; Muilla 4 spp. native, including 3 endemics of CA, NV, NM; Triteleia 15 spp. native to WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, WY, ID, MT, including ~11 endemics; Triteleiopsis 1 sp. native to AZ.
Convallarioideae in the USA
Aspidistra 1 sp. intro in AL, AR, and FL; Convallaria 2 spp native and intro in most of the E USA from MN S to LA and all E of that except LA, MS, FL, SC, and inc KS, MT, UT, WA, OR; Dasylirion 4 spp. native to AZ, NM, and TX (1 narrow endemic); Dracaena (Sanseviera) 2 spp. intro to FL; Liriope 2 spp. intro to IL, VA, MD, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC; Maianthemum 5 spp. native throughout the entire USA, including AK; Nolina 14 spp. native to CA, NV, AZ, NM, CO, OK, TX, FL, GA, and SC, inc. 7 endemics; Ophiopogon 1 sp. intro in AR, and AL; Polygonatum 4 spp. native and intro in most of the USA except WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, UT, and CO.
Scilloideae in the USA
Hooveria 2 spp. inc. 1 endemic native to CA; Hyacinthoides 3 spp. intro WA, OR, IN, OH, KY, TN, NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, PA, NY, CT; Hyacinthus 1 sp. intro to CA, UT, TX, KY, VA, PA; Muscari 4 spp. introduced in much of the USA, except ID, MT, WY, NV, AZ, ND, SD, NE, OK, IA, ME; Ornithogalum 5 spp. introduced in most of the USA, except MT, WY, CO, NM, NV, AZ; Scilla 1 sp. intro UT, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, KY, IN, OH, MI, PA, NJ, DE, NY, CT, NH.
Mexico Asparagaceae Genera
Agavoideae in Mexico
Agave ~200 spp. native, inc. ~100 endemics, widespread throughout all of Mexico; Beschorneria 10 spp. native to most of Mexico except the NW, includes 9 endemics; Chlorophytum 1 sp. intro, scattered throughout most of Mexico exc. Cmp, Coa, Son; Echeandia 74 spp. native throughout all of Mexico, including 63 endemics; Echinoagave 12 spp. endemic genera of N, C, and W Mexico; Furcraea 12 spp. native, inc. 4 endemics tropical S Mexico, Chp, Gro, Mch, Mex, Oax, Pue, QR, Tam, Ver, Yuc; Hesperaloe 7 spp. native Coa, NL, SLP, Son, Tam, including 6 endemics; Hesperocallis monospecific NAM endemic native in NW Mexico; Hesperoyucca 1 sp. native Ags, BC, BCS, Cd Mex, Dgo, Gto, Hgo, Pue; Paleoagave monospecific endemic of NW Mexico; Paraagave monospecific endemic of Mexico Gulf and SW; Yucca ~40 spp. inc. at least 13 endemics widespread throughout Mexico.
Asparagoideae in Mexico
Asparagus 5 spp. intro most of Mexico exc. N Son, Coa, Tam; Hemiphylacus 5 spp. endemic genera of Ags, Coa, Gto, NL, Oax, Pue, Qro, SLP.
Brodiaeoideae in Mexico
Bessera 4 spp. endemic genera of Mexico, B. elegans C + S Mexico, B. tenuiflora BC, BCS, B. tuitensis Jal; Bloomeria 2 spp. native to N BC, including 1 endemic; Brodiaea 2 spp. native to N BC; Dandya monospecific endemic of NE Mexico; Dichelostemma 1 sp.? native to BC, BCS, W Chi, N Son; Milla 16 spp. native, including 14-15 endemic to Coa, Gro, Mor, NL, Oax, Pue, SLP; Muilla 1 sp. native to N BC; Petronymphe 2 spp. endemic genera of SW Mexico; Triteleia 1 sp. native to NW Mexico; Triteleiopsis 1 sp. native to BC, BCS, and Son.
Convallarioideae in Mexico
Aspidistra 1 sp. intro NW, SW, and NW Gulf of Mexico; Beaucarnea 12 spp. native throughout Mexico exc. NW, inlcuding 10-11 endemics; Dasylirion 23 spp., mostly endemics native to most of Mexico exc. the tropical south; Dracaena 1 of 2 Americas spp. native to S Mexico, plus 2 spp. (former Sansevieria) intro to most of Mexico exc. N deserts of BC, Coa, and Son; Liriope 2 spp. intro Sin, Cd Mex, Mor, Ver, Chp; Maianthemum 9 spp. native to Chi, Chp, Dgo, Oax, Ver, including 4 endemics; Nolina 21 spp. native to most of Mexico except the far south, including 13 endemics; Ophiopogon 1 sp. Cd Mex, Pue, Zac; Polygonatum 2 spp. native to Son, Dgo, and Ver.
Lomandroideae in Mexico
Cordyline 1 sp. intro throughout S. Mexico.
Scilloideae in Mexico
Albuca 1 sp. intro to Pue; Hooveria 1 sp. native to NW Mexico; Hyacinthus 1 sp. intro to C. Mexico; Muscari 1 sp. intro to Sin and Ver; Ornithogalum 5 spp. introduced in C. Mexico.
Neotropical Asparagaceae Genera
Agavoideae in the Neotropics
Agave 100+ spp., native throughout CAM, most of the Antilles and Caribbean, Bermuda, S to Colombia and Venezuela, now intro to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, E Brazil, and NE Argentina; Beschorneria 1 sp., mostly Mexico-endemic genera, found in dry Guatemala and Honduras; Chlorophytum 1 sp. intro to Ecuador and Juan Fernandez Island; Diamena monospecific endemic genus of Peru; Diora monospecific narrow endemic genus of Peru; Echeandia ~8 spp. native to CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, NW Argentina, mostly SAM endemics; Furcraea 25 extant spp. native to Mexico, the Caribbean, CAM, and N. SAM; Hagenbachia 6 spp. neoendemic genera in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Paraguay; Herreria 8 spp. SAM endemic genera native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and C Chile; Yucca ~10 spp. native to hot, arid parts of CAM, Bermuda, and intro to the Antilles, El Salvador, Ecuador, Bolivia, North Argentina, and Uruguay.
Asparagoideae in the Neotropics
Asparagus 1 sp. introduced to Brazil, the Antilles, Bermuda, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Galápagos.
Brodiaeoideae in the Neotropics
Milla 1 sp. native to Guatemala and Honduras.
Convallarioideae in the Neotropics
Aspidistra 1 sp. intro El Salvador; Beaucarnea 2 spp. native to Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua; Dracaena 2 Americas spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia and 1 sp. endemic to Cuba and introduced to other Antilles, El Salvador, and Ecuador; Maianthemum 8 spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, including 2+ narrow endemics; Ophiopogon 1 sp. introduced in NE Argentina.
Lomandroideae in the Neotropics
Cordyline 1 neoendemic species native to S and SE Brazil, Bolivia, N Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with most species in the Pacific Islands and Australia; Trichopetalum 1 sp. narrow endemic of C Chile.
Scilloideae in the Neotropics
Hyacinthus 1 sp. intro to Cuba; Oziroe 5 SAM endemic spp. native to Peru, Bolivia, and Chile S to C Chile in Maule, Argentina.
Patagonia Asparagaceae Genera
Agavoideae in Patagonia
Herreria 1 sp. native to Bio Bio, Chile, in the N end of the region.
Asparagoideae in Patagonia
Asparagus 1 sp. introduced in S Argentina.
Lomandroideae in Patagonia
Trichopetalum 1-2 spp., both narrow endemics, one of Nequem, Argentina, and 1 of C Chile, which may also be in the temperate zone.
Additional Information and References
- Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles, you can also get definitions from them there.
- Willis, Lyrae (Unpublished). Plant Families of North America. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this, along with my own personal observations throughout North America.
- Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
- FNA (1993+). Flora of North America. https://floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page. Accessed 2022-current.
- GBIF.org (2020+), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
- iNaturalist.org (2020+). https://www.inaturalist.org/. Accessed 2020-current.
- Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx (Accessed 2020–current).
- Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B., & Baracat, A. eds. (2009+). Neotropikey: Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
- Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
- POWO (2019+). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/
- Stevens, P. F. (2001+). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017 [more or less continuously updated since]. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
- USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA; accessed 2020-present.
- Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. (1992+). The Families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com. Accessed spring through fall of 2020.
- WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet: http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current
Copyright Information
The information and the photos on this site are free to use for educational purposes, with proper attribution. For other uses, please contact me first.
You can cite this site as Willis, Lyrae (2020+). Lyrae’s Nature Blog – Plant Families of North America. https://lyraenatureblog.com/
