Hyacinthaceae

Hyacinthaceae or the Hyacinth family is a family of about 46 genera found in North America Eurasia and Africa. Genera in this family were at one time in Liliaceae. They are bulbous geophytes or very occasionally rhizomatous perennials with flowers grouped on an unbranched leafless stalk. Leaves mostly arise from the base. Flowers have six tepals and stamens and a superior 3 chambered ovary and a simple stigma.

The recent revision by J. Manning, P. Goldblatt & M.F. Fay, (2004) "A revised generic synopsis of Hyacinthaceae in sub-Saharan Africa, including new combinations and the new tribe Pseudoprospereae", Edinburgh Journal of Botany 60(3): 533-568 caused some controversy over some groups being sunk into a single genus. Albuca, Casitha, Coilonox, Dipcadi, Eliokarmos, Galtonia, Neopatersonia, Ornithogalum, Pseudogaltonia, Stellarioides, and Zahariadia were sunk into Ornithogalum. Amphisiphon, Androsiphon, Daubenya, and Neobakeria, were sunk into Daubenya. Drimiopsis, Ledebouria, and Resnova were sunk into Ledebouria. Lachenalia, Periboea, Polyxena were sunk into Lachenalia. Massonia and Whiteheadia were sunk into Massonia. Boosia, Charybdis, Drimia, Fusifilum, Linanthus, Rhadamanthus, Schizobasis, Sekanama, Tenicroa, Thuranthos, and Urginavia, were sunk into Drima.

The most controversial decision is the sinking of 11 genera into Ornithogalum. Based on the author's evidence, sinking such groups into one genus is rather rash. The second most controversial group is the sinking of another 11 genera into Drimia. However, the data for this group has sufficient support for such inclusion. As for the other groups, the data was well supported. As a whole, further studies will be required to fully support such groupings as Ornithogalum and Drima. Until such a study occurs, we will continue to use old genera names for these taxa with the new synonyms listed.

Genera of Hyacinthaceae on the PBS wiki
Albuca Autonoe Barnardia Bellevalia Bowiea
Brimeura Daubenya Dipcadi Drimia Drimiopsis
Eucomis Fessia Galtonia Hyacinthella Hyacinthoides
Hyacinthus Lachenalia Ledebouria Litanthus Massonia
Merwilla Muscari Nectaroscilla Neopatersonia Oncostema
Ornithogalum Othocallis Polyxena Rhadamanthus Resnova
Pseudogaltonia Schizocarphus Schnarfia Scilla Tenicroa
Tractema Urginea Veltheimia Whiteheadia

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Page last modified on March 07, 2009, at 01:07 AM