Liriope (plant)

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Lilyturf
LyriopeSpicata wb.jpg
Young variegated Liriope spicata
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Liriope
Lour.
Synonyms [1]

GloberiaRaf.

Liriope is a genus of low, grass-like flowering plants from East and Southeast Asia. [1] [2]

Contents

Some species are often used in landscaping in temperate latitudes. It may be called lilyturf in North America, although it is neither a true grass (family Poaceae) nor a lily (genus Lilium ). In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae [3] ). Like many lilioid monocots, it was once classified with lilies in the family Liliaceae; it has also been placed in the former family Convallariaceae. The genus was named for the nymph Liriope of Greek mythology.

Background and pronunciation

Liriope are usually used in the garden for their evergreen foliage as a groundcover. Some species, e.g., L. spicata, grow aggressively in the right conditions, spreading by runners; hence their nickname, "creeping lilyturf".

In the southeastern United States Liriope is sometimes referred to by the common name monkey grass or spider grass.

The pronunciation of "Liriope" varies. Commonly recommended pronunciation are /lɪˈrəpi/ lih-RY-ə-pee (US), [4] [5] and /lɪəˈrp/ leer-EE-oh-pay (British), [6] but there are many regional variations. In the southern United States, for example, it may be pronounced /ˈlrpi/ LY-roh-pee, /lɪəˈrpi/ leer-EYE-oh-pee, or /ˈlɪərip/ LEER-ee-ohp.

Cultivation

Liriope muscari is perhaps most widespread in cultivation and is considered appropriate for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10. [7]

Spikes of tiny violet-blue flowers appear in late summer, and will be more prolific with a dose or two of fertilizer early in the season. A number of variegated varieties are now available to add golden or silver flashes of color to shady situations.

Species

ImageNameDistribution
Liriope graminifolia (L.) BakerPhilippines; widespread across much of China
Liriope kansuensis (Batalin) C.H.WrightSichuan, Gansu
Liriope longipedicellata F.T.Wang & Tang}Sichuan
Liriope minor 2.JPG Liriope minor (Maxim.) MakinoJapan, Ryukyu Islands, widespread across much of China
Liriope muscari 4.JPG Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H.BaileyJapan, Korea, widespread across much of China
Liriope spicata f. koreana kz01.jpg Liriope spicata Lour.Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Korea, widespread across much of China

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asparagales</span> Order of monocot flowering plants

Asparagales is an order of plants in modern classification systems such as the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Web. The order takes its name from the type family Asparagaceae and is placed in the monocots amongst the lilioid monocots. The order has only recently been recognized in classification systems. It was first put forward by Huber in 1977 and later taken up in the Dahlgren system of 1985 and then the APG in 1998, 2003 and 2009. Before this, many of its families were assigned to the old order Liliales, a very large order containing almost all monocots with colorful tepals and lacking starch in their endosperm. DNA sequence analysis indicated that many of the taxa previously included in Liliales should actually be redistributed over three orders, Liliales, Asparagales, and Dioscoreales. The boundaries of the Asparagales and of its families have undergone a series of changes in recent years; future research may lead to further changes and ultimately greater stability. In the APG circumscription, Asparagales is the largest order of monocots with 14 families, 1,122 genera, and about 36,000 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agavoideae</span> Subfamily of plants

Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry-zone types, such as the agaves and yuccas. About 640 species are placed in around 23 genera; they are widespread in the tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions of the world.

<i>Agapanthus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Agapanthus is a genus of plants, the only one in the subfamily Agapanthoideae of the family Amaryllidaceae. The family is in the monocot order Asparagales. The name is derived from Greek: ἀγάπη, ἄνθος.

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

Brodiaea, also known by the common name cluster-lilies, is a monocot genus of flowering plants.

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

Scilla is a genus of about 30 to 80 species of bulb-forming perennial herbaceous plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Sometimes called the squills in English, they are native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. A few species are also naturalized in Australasia and North America. Their flowers are usually blue, but white, pink, and purple types are known; most flower in early spring, but a few are autumn-flowering. Several Scilla species are valued as ornamental garden plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scilloideae</span> Subfamily of bulbous monocot plants

Scilloideae is a subfamily of bulbous plants within the family Asparagaceae. Scilloideae is sometimes treated as a separate family Hyacinthaceae, named after the genus Hyacinthus. Scilloideae or Hyacinthaceae include many familiar garden plants such as Hyacinthus (hyacinths), Hyacinthoides (bluebells), Muscari and Scilla and Puschkinia. Some are important as cut flowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nolinoideae</span> Subfamily of flowering plants

Nolinoideae is a monocot subfamily of the family Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. It used to be treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae s.l. The family name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, Nolina.

<i>Polygonatum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae

Polygonatum, also known as King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is a genus of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. It has also been classified in the former family Convallariaceae and, like many lilioid monocots, was formerly classified in the lily family, Liliaceae. The genus is distributed throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Most of the approximately 63 species occur in Asia, with 20 endemic to China.

Botanical nomenclature is the formal, scientific naming of plants. It is related to, but distinct from taxonomy. Plant taxonomy is concerned with grouping and classifying plants; botanical nomenclature then provides names for the results of this process. The starting point for modern botanical nomenclature is Linnaeus' Species Plantarum of 1753. Botanical nomenclature is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), which replaces the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). Fossil plants are also covered by the code of nomenclature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asparagaceae</span> Family of plants

Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, Asparagus officinalis. Those who live in the temperate climates may be surprised to learn that this family includes both common garden plants as well as common houseplants. The garden plants include asparagus, yucca, bluebell, and hosta, and the houseplants include snake plant, corn cane, spider plant and plumosus fern.

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

Hesperocallis is a genus of flowering plants that includes a single species, Hesperocallis undulata, known as the desert lily or ajo lily.

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

Doryanthes is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Doryanthaceae. The genus consists of two species, D. excelsa and D. palmeri, both endemic natives of the coast of Eastern Australia. Doryanthaceae is part of the order Asparagales.

<i>Ophiopogon</i> Genus of grasses

Ophiopogon (lilyturf) is a genus of evergreen perennial plants native to warm temperate to tropical East, Southeast, and South Asia. Despite their grasslike appearance, they are not closely related to the true grasses, the Poaceae. The name of the genus is derived from Greek ὄφις ophis, 'snake' and πώγων pogon, 'beard', most probably referring to its leaves and tufted growth. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. Like many lilioid monocots, it was formerly classified in the Liliaceae.

<i>Agave</i> Genus of flowering plants closely related to yucca

Agave is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some Agave species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves. Agave now includes species formerly placed in a number of other genera, such as Manfreda, ×Mangave, Polianthes and Prochnyanthes.

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

Eucomis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies. They are bulbous perennials with basal rosettes of leaves and stout stems covered in star-shaped flowers with a tuft of green bracts at the top, superficially resembling a pineapple – hence the common names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asparagoideae</span> Subfamily of plants

Asparagoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales, according to the APG III system of 2009. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, Asparagus. The group has previously been treated as a separate family Asparagaceae sensu stricto.

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

Schoenolirion, rush-lily or sunnybell, is a genus of three recognized species of flowering plants, all endemic to the southeastern United States. In the APG III classification system, the genus is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae.

Dandya is a genus of about four species of flowering plants, all endemic to Mexico. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the asparagus family, and the cluster lily subfamily.

  1. Dandya balsensisA.R.López-Ferrari & Espejo - central and southern Mexico
  2. Dandya hannibaliiL.W.Lenz - Michoacán
  3. Dandya purpusii(Brandegee) H.E.Moore - Coahuila
  4. Dandya thadhowardiiL.W.Lenz - Michoacán, Guerrero

Triteleiopsis, common name Bajalily or blue sand lily, is a genus of one known species of flowering plant found in Sonora, Baja California and southwestern Arizona. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Brodiaeoideae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Families of Asparagales</span>

The Asparagales are an order of plants, and on this page the structure of the order is used according to the APG III system. The order takes its name from the family Asparagaceae and is placed in the monocots. The order is clearly circumscribed on the basis of DNA sequence analysis, but is difficult to define morphologically, since its members are structurally diverse. The APG III system is used in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. With this circumscription, the order consists of 14 families with approximately 1120 genera and 26000 species.

References

  1. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 250, 山麦冬属 shan mai dong shu, Liriope Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 190, 200. 1790.
  3. Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 132–136, doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
  4. Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  5. "Liriope". Merriam-Webster Dictionary . Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  6. Coombes, Allen J. (1994). Dictionary of Plant Names. London: Hamlyn Books. p. 108. ISBN   978-0-600-58187-1.
  7. Hortus III, Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, 1976