Taxonomy and reproductive biology of the family liliaceae of Bangladesh

Abstract

The family Liliaceae A.L. de Jussieu has been revised for Bangladesh and a total of 43 species under 20 genera have been recorded. A complete taxonomic account of the family is therefore prepared for the flora. The taxonomic history and currently accepted classification of the family Liliaceae is presented and discussed. Artificial dichotomous bracketed keys to the genera and species (wherever necessary) have been provided for easy identification of the taxa. Updated nomenclature i.e. valid names, synonyms, local names and English names where available, and descriptions have been furnished under each taxon including photographs. Flowering and fruiting periods and distribution have also been added. The germplasm of most of the taxa have been collected from different parts of the country and planted in the experimental plots of the Dhaka University Botanical Garden. Out of 43 species, 21 species are wild and 22 are cultivated. Among the wild species Asparagus racemosus Willd., A. densiflorus (Kunth) J.P. Jessop and A. setaceous (Kunth) J.P. Jessop are climbers. Hypoxis aurea Lour., Asparagus setaceous (Kunth) J.P. Jessop, Asphodelus tenuifolius Cavan and Crinum stenophyllum Baker were previously recorded but we did not find any live specimens in the wild. Some species are restricted to certain area like Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth in Cox's Bazar district near Himchari and Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng. in Belaichari of Rangamati district. Chlorophytum nepalense (Lindley) Baker was collected from Runctia Sal forest under Sherpur district in 2008 and planted in the Dhaka University Botanical Garden. This species has been recorded as new for the flora of Bangladesh. Despite repeated field trips were made in that area for further collection, no specimen of Chlorophytum nepalense were found and therefore this species could be claimed as very rare or possibly extinct in Bangladesh. Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb., an ornamental herb collected from Sonargaon and Char Kukri Mukri was not recorded previously, hence it is a new record for Bangladesh. Some other species, viz. Allium chinense G. Don, Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) J.P. Jessop, A. officinalis L., Chlorophytum comosum R.Br., Crinum amabile Donn, C. jagus (Thomps.) Dandy, Eucharis grandiflora Planch. & Linden, Eucrosia bicolor Ker-Gawl., Hippeastrum puniceum (Lamk.) Voss, Proiphys amboinensis (L.) Herb., Zephyranthes atamasco (Linn.) Herb. are usually cultivated in the gardens, were not recorded in any literature published previously for this region. Reproductive Biological data of important 14 species under 11 genera are presented and discussed. Among these species Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng., Asparagus racemosus Willd., Chlorophytum nepalense (Lindley) Baker and Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth are cross pollinated. Pollination occurred by ant or bee belonging to the family Formicidae or Apidae. Most of the species are self pollinated. Hemerocallis fulva L. produced no fruit and Pancratium triflorum Roxb. produced fruit but not matured. Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Haemanthus multiflorus Martyn ex Willd. produced very poor number fruits in comparison to the number of flowers bloomed. Out of studied 14 species of Liliaceae, 10 species were propagated through seeds. Seeds were not germinated in Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. and Scadoxus multiflorus Raf. Two species e.g. Hemerocallis fulva L. and Pancratium triflorum Roxb. produced no fruit. Minimum time taken for seed germination is 3-4 days in Zephyranthes spp., whereas maximum 1 year in Crinum amoenum Roxb. Propagation through bulb or rhizome transfer was not possible in Asparagus racemosus Willd., Chlorophytum nepalense (Lindley) Baker and Zephyranthes tubispatha (L'Her.) Herb. whereas rest 11 species propagated through bulb or rhizome. Minimum time taken for scape initiation to fruit maturation were 16 days in Zephyranthes spp. and maximum about 80 days in Gloriosa superba L. from initiation of aerial stem. Maximum about 100 flowers borne on a scape in Scadoxus multiflorus Raf., whereas single flower in Gloriosa superba L. and Zephyranthes spp. Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Haemanthus multiflorus Martyn ex Willd. produced single seed, while Gloriosa superba L. contains about 50-75 seeds in each fruit. Production of fruits and seeds were very poor compare to number of flowers in Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng., Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Scadoxus multiflorus Raf.