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Family: Ruscaceae
[=Dracaenaceae, Convalariaceae, Eriospermaceae]
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales
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.
Genera native or naturalised (*) in southern Africa
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Dracaena
About 60 species (warmer regions of
the world), with three species indigenous to southern
Africa and six species cultivated in the region. Previously placed
in the now no longer recognised family Dracaenaceae. |
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Eriospermum
Distributed mainly within southern
Africa with 100 of the 102 species occurring in this
region. The remaining species occur further north in
tropical Africa. Previously placed in the now no longer
recognised family Eriospermaceae. |
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Sansevieria
About 60 species (mainly tropical
Africa and Asia), of which six are native to southern
Africa and an additional five species are cultivated in
the region. Previously placed in the now no longer
recognised family Dracaenaceae. |
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Genera cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002) where these genera are
listed under Agavaceae. Species
are listed for genera with only one species cultivated in the
region.
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Aspidistra
Two species cultivated, both from
China. |
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Convallaria
Convallaria majalis
(Lily-of-the-valley) is indigenous to the north
temperate regions and is cultivated in gardens in
southern Africa. The genus was previously in the
Convalariaceae, which is no longer recognised. |
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Dasylirion Four
species of Dasylirion, all indigenous to the USA/Mexico, are
cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Liriope
Three species cultivated. |
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Nolina
recurvata Indigenous to the USA. |
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Ophiopogon
Ophiopogon jaburan (indigenous
to Japan) and Ophiopogon japonicus (Japanese
hyacinth - indigenous to Japan, China and Korea) are
cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Polygonatum
Polygonatum odoratum (Angular
Solomon's-seal) is indigenous to Eurasia and is
cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Reineckea carnea
Indigenous to China and Japan. |
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Ruscus aculeatus (Butchers'
broom)
Indigenous to Europe and the Azores and cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Publications
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