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Convallarioideae

Convallarioideae
Convallaria majalis, the type species of the Convallarioideae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Convallarioideae
Herb.[1]
Genera

See text

Convallarioideae is a monocot subfamily of the family Asparagaceae. It used to be treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae s.l., but this family was merged into Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. Initially the name Nolinoideae was used, derived from the type genus Nolina.[2] This name was supposed to have been published by Burnett in 1935. However, this has been shown to be an error, as Burnett based a subfamily on the Solanaceae genus Nolana not Nolina.[3]

The subfamily includes genera that had been placed in a range of different families, including Ruscaceae s.s., Nolinaceae, Dracaenaceae, Convallariaceae and Eriospermaceae. Like many groups of lilioid monocots, the genera included here were once included in a wide interpretation of the family Liliaceae.[4]

Taxonomy

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In the 2009 APG III system, the former family Ruscaceae was one of those sunk into a much broader family Asparagaceae. As a result, Chase and coauthors proposed a set of subfamilies for the Asparagaceae in 2009, including one they called Nolinoideae, supposedly published by Burnett in 1835 based on the genus Nolina.[2] Many authors have subsequently used this name. However, in 2023, it was pointed out that Burnett actually published a subfamily Nolanoideae within the family Solanaceae, based on the genus Nolana.[5][6][3] The earliest published and hence correct name for the subfamily thus becomes Convallarioideae, based on the genus Convallaria,[3] published by William Herbert in 1837,[1] a conclusion supported by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website as of August 2025.[7]

Genera

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A possibly incomplete list of the genera included in the Convallarioideae (former Nolinoideae) is given below. The reference is to the source which places the genus in this subfamily. The genera included here have varied widely in their limits and assignment to families and subfamilies; some former family placements other than Convallarioideae (which will be found in the literature) are given below.[4][8][9]

Genus Source Tribe[10] Former family placement(s)
other than Ruscaceae s.l.
Aspidistra Ker Gawl.
(including Antherolophus Gagnep., Colania Gagnep.)		 [2] Convallarieae Convallariaceae
Beaucarnea Lem. [9] Nolineae Dracaenaceae, Agavaceae
Comospermum Rauschert [2] ? Anthericaceae
Convallaria L. [2] Convallarieae Convallariaceae
Danae Medik. [2] Rusceae
Dasylirion Zucc. [4] Nolineae Dracaenaceae
Disporopsis Hance [9] Polygonateae Convallariaceae
Dracaena Vand. ex L.
(including Sansevieria Thunb.)		 [2] Dracaeneae Dracaenaceae, Agavaceae
Eriospermum Jacq. [2] Eriospermeae Eriospermaceae
Heteropolygonatum M.N.Tamura & Ogisu [9] Polygonateae Convallariaceae
Liriope Lour. [4] Ophiopogoneae Convallariaceae
Maianthemum F.H.Wigg.
(including Oligobotrya Baker, Smilacina Desf.)		 [2] Polygonateae Convallariaceae
Nolina Michx. [2] Nolineae Dracaenaceae
Ophiopogon Ker Gawl. [2] Ophiopogoneae Convallariaceae
Peliosanthes Andrews [2] Ophiopogoneae Convallariaceae
Polygonatum Mill. [2] Polygonateae Convallariaceae
Reineckea Kunth [9] Convallarieae Convallariaceae
Rohdea Roth
(including Gonioscypha Baker)		 [9] Convallarieae Convallariaceae
Ruscus L. [2] Rusceae
Semele Kunth [2] Rusceae
Speirantha Baker [2] Convallarieae Convallariaceae
Theropogon Maxim. [9] ? Convallariaceae
Tupistra Ker Gawl.
(including Campylandra Baker, Tricalistra Ridl.)		 [2] Convallarieae Convallariaceae

Genera formerly placed in this subfamily

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Calibanus was a former genus that was placed in this subfamily when the APG III system was introduced.[2][11] Both members of the genus have since been transferred to the genus Beaucarnea (also a member of the subfamily) after molecular phylogenetic research demonstrated a strong phylogenetic relationship with species of Beaucarnea.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Convallarioideae Herb.". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.F. (2009). "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 161 (2): 132–136. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x.
  3. ^ a b c Tanaka, Noriyuki & Nguyen, Khang Sinh (2023). "Nolinoideae (Asparagaceae) in APG III needs replacing with Convallarioideae". Phytotaxa. 583 (3): 297–299. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.583.3.9.
  4. ^ a b c d Stevens, P.F. (2001–2011). "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website". Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  5. ^ Burnett, Gilbert Thomas (1835). Outlines of Botany. London: John Churchill. OCLC 852811089. Retrieved 2025-08-10. pp. 985, 1095, 1106.
  6. ^ "Nolinoideae Burnett ex M.W. Chase, Reveal & M.F. Fay". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  7. ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "7. Convallarioideae Herbert". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  8. ^ "Vascular Plant Families and Genera". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Query GRIN Taxonomy for Plants". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  10. ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "List of Genera in Ruscaceae / Asparagaceae-Nolinoideae". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  11. ^ Calibanus. Kew Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:297730-2
  12. ^ Molecular phylogenetics and morphology of Beaucarnea (Ruscaceae) as distinct from Nolina, and the submersion of Calibanus into Beaucarnea (2014). Rojas-Piña, V., Olson, M.E., Alvarado-Cárdenas, L.O. & Eguiarte, L.E.. Taxon 63: 1193-1211. [Cited as Beaucarnea.]
  13. ^ "Beaucarnea Lem. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
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