Agapanthaceae (agapanthus family)

The only genus in the family is Agapanthus, which is endemic to southern Africa and represented by 10 species.

Agavaceae (agave, sisal family)

There are twelve genera and about 400 species. Native to Old and New World tropics and subtropics. Four species of Agave have become naturalised in southern Africa. An additional six genera and 21 species are cultivated in southern Africa.

Alliaceae (onions, garlic, leek family)

There are 20 genera and about 795 species worldwide (cosmopolitan), with two genera and 22 species indigenous to southern Africa. An additional one genus and species is naturalised and an additional two genera and 15 species (13 of them in the onion genus Allium) are cultivated in the region.

Amaryllidaceae

There are about 59 genera and 800 species (warm temperate and tropical regions worldwide), of which 18 genera and about 280 species are indigenous to southern Africa (the region with the highest diversity of amaryllids in the world). An additional one genus and species is naturalised, and an additional 12 genera and 31 species are cultivated in Southern Africa.

Asparagaceae (asparagus family)

Two genera and 165-295 species (Africa, Asia and Europe, touching into Australia). Most of the species fall in Asparagus which has about 120 species and this is the only genus that occurs in southern Africa where there are about 81 species. The asparagus vegetable that we eat is derived from young shoots of  Asparagus officinalis (asparagus). However, the shoots of some indigenous southern African species are also eaten.

Asphodelaceae (aloe family)

There are 15 genera and about 785 species (distributed over Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand), of which 10 genera and about 353 species are indigenous to southern Africa. An additional two genera and 11 species are cultivated in the region.

Doryanthaceae

One genus (Doryanthes), native to eastern Australia. Doryanthes palmeri is cultivated in southern Africa. Previously included in the Amaryllidaceae.

Hemerocallidaceae

There are 19 genera and 85 species (widely distributed but not indigenous to the Americas, of which one genus and two species are indigenous to southern Africa.  An additional three genera and seven species are cultivated in the region.

Hyacinthaceae

There are about 46 genera and 900 species worldwide (Africa, Eurasia and N America), of which 27 genera and about 400 species are indigenous to southern Africa. An additional four genera and six species are cultivated in the region.

Hypoxidaceae

There are nine genera and about 130 species worldwide of which six genera (five endemic) and about 88 species are indigenous to southern Africa. An additional one genus and two species are cultivated in the region.  Southern Africa is the region with the highest diversity of hypoxids but the family is also native to South America, Australia and tropical Asia.

Iridaceae (iris family)

There are about 70 genera and 1800 species (cosmopolitan), of which 32 genera and 1020 species are indigenous to southern Africa, which is the region of the world with the highest diversity of this family. An additional 11 genera and 28 species are cultivated in southern Africa.

Laxmanniaceae

Fifteen genera and 178 species (Australia, SE Asia, Pacific Islands and Americas). No indigenous species in southern Africa but four species of Cordyline are cultivated in the region.

Lanariaceae

The family contains a single species: Lanaria lanata, which is endemic to southern Africa (Western Cape and Eastern Cape).

Orchidaceae (orchid family)

There are about 800 genera and 20 000 (cosmopolitan, but mainly in moist regions), of which 52 genera and about 466 species are indigenous to southern Africa  An additional 102 genera and 413 species are cultivated in the region.

Ruscaceae

There are 26 genera and 475 species (occurring nearly worldwide), of which three genera and 116 species are indigenous to southern Africa. In addition, nine genera and 27 species are cultivated in the region.

Tecophilaeaceae

Nine genera and 23 species (Africa, Chile and California), with two genera and 10 species indigenous to southern Africa.

Themidaceae

Twelve genera and 62 species (southwestern North America, extending south to Guatemala). Brodiaea coronaria and Triteleia uniflora are cultivated in southern Africa.