edgepedia

Aloes, daylilies, and asphodels (Asphodelaceae / Xanthorrhoeaceae)

7 articles

Aloe

Aloe is a genus of over 300-550 succulent Asphodelaceae plants native to Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, and NW India; Aloe vera gel and latex are widely used medicinally, with mixed clinical evidence and CITES-listed species.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), a succulent cultivated worldwide, yields inner-leaf gel used in cosmetics and burn care and bitter latex containing the laxative anthraquinone aloin; non-decolorized whole leaf extract is an IARC possible carcinogen.

Asphodelaceae

Asphodelaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants in the order Asparagales, mostly Old World perennials and succulents, named in 1789 and best known for aloe, haworthia, and kniphofia.

Asphodelus

Asphodelus (asphodel) is a genus of about 18 perennial herbs in Asphodelaceae, native from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean to the Indian Subcontinent, used in traditional medicine and phytochemistry.

Daylily

Daylily (Hemerocallis, Asphodelaceae): perennial genus of 16 species native from SE. Alps and Siberia to temperate East Asia; each flower lasts one day; basis of tens of thousands of garden cultivars.

Kniphofia

Kniphofia (red hot poker, torch lily, tritoma) is an African genus of about 70 rhizomatous Asphodelaceae perennials with torch-like red-to-yellow flower spikes, named by Moench in 1794 for Johann Hieronymus Kniphof and widely grown as garden cultivars.

Phormium

Phormium (New Zealand flax, harakeke) is a genus of two Asphodelaceae species native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island, grown for fibre, weaving, and ornament, with erect capsules distinguishing P. tenax.