Advances in angiosperm systematics: examples from the Liliales and Asparagales

This overview of recent phylogenetic studies in the petaloid monocots focuses on the Hemerocallidaceae and Melanthiaceae, both segregates of the traditional and polyphyletic Liliaceae s.l. Synapomorphies for Hemerocallidaceae and Melanthiaceae are summarized. Data support the expansion of the Hemerocallidaceae to include 16 to 18 genera. Recent studies show the Melanthiaceae s.l. sensu Dahlgren to be polyphyletic and indicate that the family should be divided into three distantly related families: the Melanthiaceae s.s. (Liliales), the Nartheciaceae (Nartheciales), and the Tofieldiaceae (Tofieldiales).