Liliaceae
Noun: * Liliaceae: A large family of monocotyledonous plants, often called the lily family. This family traditionally included many bulbous or rhizomatous plants with showy flowers, though modern botanical classification has redistributed many of its members into other, more specific families. The reference list provided illustrates this historical breadth.
- Noun:
- Botanists once classified tulips, hyacinths, and true lilies within the Liliaceae.
- The traditional family Liliaceae was characterized by flowers with parts in threes.
- Modern phylogenetic studies have led to the splitting of the broad Liliaceae into several smaller families.
- In taxonomic context: The term is primarily used in scientific, historical, or educational discussions about plant taxonomy and evolution.
- The circumscription of Liliaceae has narrowed considerably since the advent of molecular systematics.
- Liliaceous (adjective): Of or relating to the lily family.
- The plant had the liliaceous character of parallel leaf veins.
- Lily family: The common name for Liliaceae.
The meaning of "Liliaceae" is specific and scientific. Its primary definition is taxonomic. The key nuance for learners is understanding that its usage reflects a shift in scientific understanding: it can refer to the historical, broad family that included many familiar garden plants, or to the modern, more narrowly defined family that is now considered to contain mainly true lilies and their closest relatives. The provided reference context explicitly shows the historical, broad definition.
- includes species sometimes divided among the following families: Alliaceae; Aloeaceae; Alstroemeriaceae; Aphyllanthaceae; Asparagaceae; Asphodelaceae; Colchicaceae; Convallariaceae; Hemerocallidaceae; Hostaceae; Hyacinthaceae; Melanthiaceae; Ruscaceae; Smilacaceae; Tecophilaeacea; Xanthorrhoeaceae