The asparagus family
Plant family guide
Asparagaceae is a broad modern plant family containing familiar but very different-looking plants, including Bluebells, squills, Solomon's-seals, butcher's-broom and asparagus. Some of these groups were once placed in separate families, which is why older books may classify them differently.
Despite the variety, many herbaceous members show a useful combination of narrow leaves, underground storage organs and flowers built in threes. The native Bluebell is an excellent UK example.
Flowers often have six tepals, arranged as two groups of three. The tepals may be free or joined into a tube. In Bluebell they form a narrow bell-shaped perianth with strongly recurved tips.
Six stamens are common, corresponding to the six tepals. In some genera the filaments are attached to the tepals or to a floral tube.
Many herbaceous members have narrow leaves with parallel veins. In stemless or bulbous species the leaves are often clustered at the base, as in Bluebell and squills.
Bulbs, rhizomes, corms and tuberous roots occur widely in the family. These structures store reserves and allow perennial plants to survive periods when their above-ground growth disappears.
The ovary is commonly formed from three fused carpels and divided into three chambers. Depending on the group it may be superior or inferior.
Fruit is commonly either a dry capsule or a fleshy berry. Bluebell produces a dry capsule containing dark seeds.
Asparagaceae is much more diverse than Bluebell alone suggests. The modern family combines groups that were historically treated separately, including the old Hyacinthaceae and Agavaceae. Some members are small bulbous herbs, while others are shrubs, climbers or even tree-like plants.
For UK wildflower identification, the combination of six similar tepals, six stamens, narrow parallel-veined leaves and a bulb or rhizome is especially useful for plants such as Bluebells and squills. As with any large family, several features should be considered together.
Six-parted flowers are common among monocots, so they do not identify Asparagaceae on their own. Irises, for example, belong to Iridaceae and normally have only three stamens, while many members of Amaryllidaceae have their flowers grouped in an umbel-like head surrounded by conspicuous bracts.
Bluebell is also a useful contrast with Foxglove. Both have tubular or bell-like flowers, but Foxglove belongs to Plantaginaceae and has strongly bilateral flowers rather than the six-parted monocot structure of Bluebell.
Explore the individual flower pages for more photographs and identification details.