Editing Liliaceae (section)

==== Tulips ====
Tulips have been cultivated since at least the tenth century  in [[Persia]].<ref name=Christenhusz/> Tulip production has two main markets: [[cut flowers]] and [[Ornamental bulbous plant|bulbs]]. The latter are used, in turn, to meet the demand for bulbs for parks, gardens, and home use and, secondly, to provide the necessary bulbs for cut flower production. [[International trade]] in cut flowers has an approximate total value of 11 billion [[euros]], which provides an indication of the economic importance of this activity. The main producer of tulip bulbs is the [[Netherlands]], a country that accounts for 87% of the global cultivated area, with approximately 12,000 [[hectares]]. Other leading producers include [[Japan]], [[France]] and [[Poland]]. Approximately ten other countries produce commercial tulips, largely for the [[domestic market]]. By contrast, the Netherlands is the leading international producer, to the extent of 4 billion bulbs per annum. Of these, 53% are used for the cut flower market and the remainder for the dry bulb market. Of the cut flowers, 57% are used for the domestic market in the Netherlands and the remainder exported.<ref name=Sunshine/><ref name=floridata/>

Original ''Tulipa'' species can be obtained for ornamental purposes, such as ''[[Tulipa tarda]]'' and ''[[Tulipa turkestanica]]''. These are referred to as [[Species Tulips|species, or botanical, tulips]], and tend to be smaller plants but better at [[naturalising]] than the cultivated forms. Breeding programs have produced a wide range of tulip types, enabling blooming through a much longer season by creating early, mid- and late spring varieties. Fourteen distinct types are available in addition to botanical tulips, including Lily-flowered, Fringed, Viridiflora, and Rembrandt. In addition to blooming season, tulip varieties differ in shape and height, and exhibit a wide range of colours, both pure and in combination.<ref name=Wilford/>