Agavoideae

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Agavoideae
File:Agave, Victoria Regina, Huntington.jpg
Agave victoriae-reginae
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Type genus
Agave
Genera

See text.

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Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae.[1] The group includes many well-known desert and dry zone types such as the agave, yucca, and Joshua tree. There are about 640 species in around 23 genera,[2] widespread in the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world.

Description and uses

Species may be succulent or not. In general, Agavoideae leaves occur as rosettes at the end of a woody stem, which may range from extremely short to tree-like heights, as in the Joshua tree. The leaves are parallel-veined, and usually appear long and pointed, often with a hardened spine on the end, and sometimes with additional spines along the margins.

Agave species are used to make tequila, pulque and mezcal, while others are valued for their fibers. They are quite popular for xeriscaping as many have showy flowers.

Systematics

The taxonomy of the group has varied widely. In the APG III system of 2009, adopted here, the Agavoideae is defined very broadly to include the former family Agavaceae along with other formerly separate families such as Anemarrhenaceae, Chlorogalaceae, Hostaceae, Yuccaceae, Anthericaceae, Hesperocallidaceae and Chlorogalaceae. This is based on data from molecular systematics.[3] Stevens comments that "The broad concept of Agavoideae [...] may not seem very satisfactory" but that none of the alternatives is better.[2] Sources prior to 2009 will still have Agavaceae (in varying circumscriptions) as a separate family and may contain varying numbers of other families included in Agavoideae in the APG III system.

Some genera formerly placed in this group (under whatever name) have been separated off; e.g. Dracaena, which superficially resembles some species of Agave, is currently placed in the subfamily Nolinoideae.[1]

Genera

A possibly partial list of the genera included in the Agavoideae is given below. The reference is to the source which places the genus in this subfamily. As noted above, the genera currently included here have varied widely in their limits and assignment to families and subfamilies; some former family placements other than Agavaceae which will be found in the literature are given below.[2][4]

Genus Former family placement(s) outside Agavaceae/Agavoideae
Agave L. [1]
Anemarrhena Bunge [1] Anemarrhenaceae
Anthericum L. [1] Anthericaceae
Behnia Didr. [1] Behniaceae, Philesiaceae
Beschorneria Kunth [1]
Camassia Lindl. [1] Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae
Chlorogalum (Lindl.) Kunth [1] Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae
Chlorophytum Ker Gawl. [1] Anthericaceae
Clara Kunth Herreriaceae
Diamena Ravenna [5]
Diora Ravenna [5] Anthericaceae
Echeandia Ortega [1] Anthericaceae
Eremocrinum M.E.Jones [2]
Furcraea Vent. [2]
Hagenbachia Nees & Mart. [5]
Hastingsia S.Watson [1] Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae
Herreria Ruiz & Pav. [1] Herreriaceae
Herreriopsis H.Perrier [1] Herreriaceae
Hesperaloe Engelm. in S.Watson [5]
Hesperocallis A.Gray [1] Hesperocallidaceae, Hyacinthaceae
Hesperoyucca (Engelm.) Trel. [5]
(included in Yucca by some sources)		 Yuccaceae
Hosta Tratt. [1] Hostaceae
Leucocrinum Nutt. ex A.Gray [1] Anthericaceae
Manfreda Salisb. [2]
(included in Agave by some sources)
Paradisea Mazzuc. [1] Asphodelaceae
Polianthes L. [2]
(included in Agave by some sources)
Prochnyanthes S.Watson [5]
Schoenolirion Durand [1] Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae
Yucca L. [1]
(including Samuela)		 Yuccaceae

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

  • Agavaceae in Flora of North America.
  • Agavaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.
  • Die Agaven.
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