Asphodelaceae

Perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, sometimes succulent; rhizome often present. Stems fibrous or woody, subterranean to tall. Roots fibrous or thickened and tuberous. Leaves alternate, spiral or distichous, often forming a rosette, often sheathing at base, linear, subulate or ovate-lanceolate, flat, compressed, terete or wedge-shaped, sometimes thick-leathery or succulent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, 1–many-flowered and variously arranged in a panicle, raceme or spike. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic or rarely slightly zygomorphic, often subtended by bracts; tepals free or fused, fleshy to dry and papery, in 2 whorls of 3; stamens 6, in 2 whorls of 3, mostly hypogynous, free or slightly connate at base, sometimes with 3 stamens joined to the base of tepals, anthers sometimes ornamented; carpels 3, fused, ovary superior, 1- or 3-locular, ovules 1–many per locule; style simple with a capitate or 3-lobed stigma, stigma sometimes with a tuft of hair. Fruit a capsule or berry, often subtended by persistent perianth; seeds usually flattened or angular, testa black (with phytomelan), often winged or ornamented, with or without copious endosperm.