Family Liliaceae (order Liliales), which contains about 4,000 species of flowering herbs and shrubs in 280 genera. The genus Lilium includes the true lilies. Native primarily to temperate and subtropical regions, these monocots (&see; cotyledon) usually have six-segmented flowers, three-chambered capsular fruits, and leaves with parallel veins.
Among the oldest cultivated plants, true lilies are erect perennials with leafy stems, scaly bulbs, usually narrow leaves, and solitary or clustered flowers, some quite fragrant, in a variety of colours. Most species store nutrients underground in a bulb, corm, or tuber. Important garden ornamentals and houseplants in the family include aloe, bluebell, crocus, daylily, hosta, Solomon's seal, and tulip. Food-producing members include onion, garlic, and asparagus.
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