List of Asphodelaceae of South Africa

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Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants (anthophytes) in the order Asparagales. [1] Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 40 genera and 900 known species. [2] The type genus is Asphodelus . The family has a wide but scattered distribution throughout the tropics and temperate zones. Many of the species are cultivated as ornamentals. A few are grown commercially for cut flowers.

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23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. [3] Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests. [4]

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)). [5]

21 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. [5] Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Aloe

Genus Aloe : [5]

Aloiampelos

Genus Aloiampelos : [5]

Aloidendron

Genus Aloidendron : [5]

Apicra

Genus Apicra : [5]

Aristaloe

Genus Aristaloe : [5]

Asphodelus

Genus Asphodelus : [5]

Astroloba

Genus Astroloba : [5]

Bulbine

Genus Bulbine : [5]

Bulbinella

Genus Bulbinella : [5]

Catavala

Genus Catevala : [5]

Chortolirion

Genus Chortolirion : [5]

Gasteria

Genus Gasteria : [5]

Gonialoe

Genus Gonialoe : [5]

Haworthia

Genus Haworthia : [5]

Haworthiopsis

Genus Haworthiopsis : [5]

Kniphofia

Genus Kniphofia : [5]

Kumara

Genus Kumara : [5]

Leptaloe

Genus Leptaloe : [5]

Poellnitzia

Genus Poellnitzia : [5]

Trachyandra

Genus Trachyandra : [5]

Tulista

Genus Tulista : [5]

Hybrids

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asphodeloideae</span> Subfamily of flowering plants, in monocot family Asphodelaceae

Asphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Asphodelaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae sensu stricto. The family Asphodelaceae has now been proposed to be a nomen conservandum, and the proposal has been recommended for ratification in 2017. In that case, Asphodelaceae will have priority over Xanthorrhoeaceae. This is reflected in the APG IV family lists.

<i>Haworthia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa (Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa).

<i>Gasteria</i> Genus of succulent flowering plants from South Africa

Gasteria is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa.

<i>Bulbine</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae

Bulbine is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae and subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber of many species. It was formerly placed in the Liliaceae. It is found chiefly in Southern Africa, with a few species extending into tropical Africa and a few others in Australia and Yemen.

<i>Haworthia cymbiformis</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia cymbiformis is a species of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

<i>Haworthiopsis coarctata</i> Species of succulent

Haworthiopsis coarctata, formerly Haworthia coarctata, is a species of flowering succulent plant from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and naturalized in Mexico. It is one of the species of Haworthiopsis that is commonly cultivated as an ornamental.

<i>Haworthia mirabilis</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia mirabilis is a species of the genus Haworthia belonging to the family Asphodelaceae.

<i>Haworthia bolusii</i> Species of flowering plant

Haworthia bolusii is a species of Haworthia that was originally described by John Gilbert Baker in 1880.

<i>Tulista</i> Genus of flowering plants

Tulista is a small genus of succulent plants endemic to South Africa. They were formerly included within the genus Haworthia.

<i>Haworthia cooperi</i> Species of succulent

Haworthia cooperi is a diverse and varied species of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, endemic to the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

<i>× Gasteraloe</i> Genus of flowering plants

× Gasteraloe is a genus of hybrid plants, from mixtures of species from the Aloe or Aristaloe and Gasteria genera.

<i>Haworthiopsis scabra</i> Species of succulent

Haworthiopsis scabra, formerly Haworthia scabra, is a species of flowering succulent plant from arid regions of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aloeae</span> Tribe of succulent plants

Aloeae is a tribe of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae of the family Asphodelaceae, consisting of the aloes and their close relatives. The taxon may also be treated as the subfamily Alooideae by those botanists who retain the narrower circumscription of Asphodelaceae adopted prior to the APG III system. Typically, plants have rosettes of more or less succulent leaves, with or without a distinct stem. Their flowers are arranged in racemes and tend to be either small and pale, pollinated by insects, or larger and more brightly coloured, pollinated by birds. As of 2017, 11 genera are recognized, most created since 2010 by splitting off another five genera from Aloe and another two from Haworthia. Only two genera, Aloe and Aloidendron, are native outside southern Africa, extending northwards to the Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera are restricted to South Africa, some with small ranges. Members of the Aloeae are cultivated by succulent plant enthusiasts; Aloe species especially are used in temperate climates as ornamental garden plants. Some species are used in traditional medicine. Aloe vera and Aloe ferox are cultivated for their extracts, whose uses include moisturizers and emollients in cosmetics.

<i>Haworthiopsis</i> Genus of succulent plants

Haworthiopsis is a genus of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae. The genus was previously included in Haworthia. Species in the genus are typically short perennial plants, with leaves often arranged in a rosette and frequently having raised white markings. The two-lipped flowers are borne on a tall stalk and are small – less than 17 mm (0.7 in) long – and pale in colour. Many species are cultivated as house plants or by succulent enthusiasts.

References

  1. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2016). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 181 (1): 1–20. doi: 10.1111/boj.12385 .
  2. Christenhusz, M.J.M. & Byng, J.W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. 261 (3): 201–217. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 .
  3. Butler, Rhett A. (1 July 2019). "Total number of plant species by country". Mongabay. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  4. "Vegetation of South Africa". PlantZAfrica.com. SA National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "species_checklist_20180710.csv". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 27 September 2020.