A subclass of the monocotyledons containing mainly herbaceous plants often with relatively large flowers. It may contain, depending on the classification scheme referred to, two to five orders. The differences arise because the Zingiberales and Triuridales (sometimes placed in the Liliidae) are alternatively classified in the * Commelinidae and * Alismatidae respectively, and the family Iridaceae (order Liliales) is sometimes raised to the status of an order, Iridales. The order Liliales contains some 14-18 families including: the Iridaceae (which contains the horticulturally important Crocus, Iris, Freesia, and Gladiolus); the * Liliaceae ; the Amaryllidaceae (which contains the genera Narcissus and Galanthus); Agavaceae (which includes sisal hemp, Agave sisalana); and the Dioscoreaceae (yam family). The order Orchidales contains the Burmanniaceae and the * Orchidaceae. |
