LIL'IA'CEZE (Neo-Lat. nom. pl., from Let. from Gk. ),eiptov, leirion, lily; connected with Xclp61, 1einos, pale, Lith. teitus. thin, Skt. ti, 'Tura LILY VAMILY. A natural or der of monocotyledonous, mostly herbaceous, bul bous, tuberous, or sometimes fibrous rooted plaIltS and occasionally shrubs or trees, which last are mostly tropical. There are about 200 genera and 2500 species, most numerous, in the warmer parts of the temperate zone. The dif ferent members of this family exhibit wide dif ferences in habit ut growth. Alany are xerophytes, souse are succulents, some senii-aquaties, and a few climbers. The stem is simple, or branching toward the top, leafless or leafy. The leaves are simple, generally narrow. sometimes cylindrical, sometimes tistular. The flowers are generally large, with six-cleft or six-toothed perianth. and grow singly or in spikes. racemes, umbels, heads, or panicles. The stamens are six, opposite to the segments of the perianth; the pistil has a superior three-celled, 11May-seeded ovary, and a single style. The order contains many of our finest garden, greenhouse, and hothouse flowers, lily, tulip, lily of the tuberose, fritillary, and hyacinth; many species useful for food. as
onion, garlic, leek, and other species of Allium, asparagus, the quamash or biscuitroot (Comas es,cnicnia) of North America ; many species valuable in medicine, as aloes, etc.; useful fibre is obtained from some, such as the New Zealand hemp, bowstring hemp, yucca, etc. Xanthor rhwa and Draerena yield resins; and Chloraga lum is used as soap. \lany systems of classifi cation have been proposed, all technical and rather difficult. fn that of Engler the order is divided into eleven suborders each embracing from one to many genera. The principal genera of the United States are: Smilax, Allium, Camas sia, Ornithugalunt Hemeroeallis, Yucca, Conval laria, Asparagus, Erythronium, Linton, Trillium, Veratrum, and Zygadenus. The lily family is poorly represented among fossil plants. Some scattered members appear in the Tertiary de posits, hut most of the fossil forms ascribed to this family seem to be of doubtful relationship.