Agavoideae
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae.<ref name="Chase2009"/> The group includes many well-known desert and dry-zone types, such as the agaves and yuccas (including the Joshua tree). About 640 species are placed in around 23 genera;<ref name="apw110525"/> they are widespread in the tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions of the world.
Description and uses
[edit]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
[edit]The taxonomy of the group has varied widely. In the APG III system of 2009, adopted here, the Agavoideae are defined very broadly to include the former family Agavaceae along with other formerly separate families such as Anemarrhenaceae, Chlorogalaceae, Hostaceae, Yuccaceae, Anthericaceae, and Hesperocallidaceae, based on data from molecular systematics.<ref name="apgiii"/> Stevens comments that "The broad concept of Agavoideae [...] may not seem very satisfactory" but that none of the alternatives is better.<ref name="apw110525"/> 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 the 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.<ref name="Chase2009"/>
Genera
[edit]A partial list of the genera included in the Agavoideae is given below. The reference is to the source that 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 are found in the literature are given below.<ref name="apw110525"/><ref name="vpfg"/>
| Genus | Former family placement(s) outside Agavaceae/Agavoideae |
| Agave L. <ref name=Chase2009/> | |
| Anemarrhena Bunge <ref name=Chase2009/> | Anemarrhenaceae |
| Anthericum L. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Anthericaceae |
| Behnia Didr. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Behniaceae, Philesiaceae |
| Beschorneria Kunth <ref name=Chase2009/> | |
| Camassia Lindl. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae |
| Chlorogalum (Lindl.) Kunth <ref name=Chase2009/> | Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae |
| Chlorophytum Ker Gawl. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Anthericaceae |
| Clara Kunth | Herreriaceae |
| Diamena Ravenna <ref name=GRINquery/> | |
| Diora Ravenna <ref name=GRINquery/> | Anthericaceae |
| Diuranthera Hemsl. | |
| Echeandia Ortega <ref name=Chase2009/> | Anthericaceae |
| Eremocrinum M.E.Jones <ref name=apw110525/> | |
| Furcraea Vent. <ref name=apw110525/> | |
| Hagenbachia Nees & Mart. <ref name=GRINquery/> | |
| Hastingsia S.Watson <ref name=Chase2009/> | Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae |
| Herreria Ruiz & Pav. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Herreriaceae |
| Herreriopsis H.Perrier <ref name=Chase2009/> | Herreriaceae |
| Hesperaloe Engelm. in S.Watson <ref name=GRINquery/> | |
| Hesperocallis A.Gray <ref name=Chase2009/> | Hesperocallidaceae, Hyacinthaceae |
| Hesperoyucca (Engelm.) Trel. <ref name=GRINquery/> (included in Yucca by some sources) |
Yuccaceae |
| Hosta Tratt. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Hostaceae |
| Leucocrinum Nutt. ex A.Gray <ref name=Chase2009/> | Anthericaceae |
| Manfreda Salisb. <ref name=apw110525/> (included in Agave by some sources) |
|
| Paradisea Mazzuc. <ref name=Chase2009/> | Asphodelaceae |
| Polianthes L. <ref name=apw110525/> (included in Agave by some sources) |
|
| Prochnyanthes S.Watson <ref name=GRINquery/> | |
| Schoenolirion Durand <ref name=Chase2009/> | Chlorogalaceae, Hyacinthaceae |
| Trihesperus Herb. | |
| Yucca L. <ref name=Chase2009/> (including Samuela) |
Yuccaceae |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Sources
[edit]External links
[edit]- 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
- Agavaceae in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Template:Wikispecies-inline