Nartheciaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon

Synonym(s): Abaminaceae J. Agardh, nom. illeg.

Common name(s): bog asphodel family

*Number of genera/species: 5/35

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Identification features

Fruit
Type	capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
Size range	2–15 mm long
Shape(s)	oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , conicalconical: 3D shape—cone-shaped, with the point of attachment at the broad end , globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , lanceoloidlanceoloid: 3D shape—lanceolate
Texture	chartaceouschartaceous: papery, papyraceous
Surface relief	ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , sometimes pubescentpubescent: surface relief—bearing hairs
Color(s)	green, orange, or reddish brown
Unique features	Usually beakedbeak: a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered , chartaceouschartaceous: papery, papyraceous capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary subtended by persistent perianthsperianth: collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower .
Seed
Size range	0.4–11 mm long
Shape(s)	oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , lanceoloidlanceoloid: 3D shape—lanceolate , linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
Surface relief	sulcatesulcate: surface relief—having one or more elongate, relatively narrow and shallow depressions or grooves and reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces or striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges
Color(s)	white, yellow
Unique features	Elongate, deeply sulcatesulcate: surface relief—having one or more elongate, relatively narrow and shallow depressions or grooves , white or yellow seeds, with reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces or striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges seed coats.
Other
Embryo	small, globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical to ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , straight
Nutritive tissue	endosperm copious

Distribution

Scattered North temperate distribution, with representatives also in Venezuela, Guiana, and in western Malesia.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+:
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. Flora of North America Association, New York and Oxford. Accessed January-March 2024. URL: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org.; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Martin 1946Martin 1946:
Martin AC. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. American Midland Naturalist 36 (3): 513-660. https://doi.org/10.2307/2421457; Tutin et al. 1964–1980Tutin et al. 1964–1980:
Tutin TG, Burges NA, Chater AO, Edmondson JR, Heywood VH, Moore DM, Valentine DH, Walters SM, and Webb DA (eds.) 1964–1980. Flora Europaea. 5 vols. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. 2,524 pp.; Watson and Dallwitz 1992+Watson and Dallwitz 1992+:
Watson L and Dallwitz MJ. 1992+. The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 6th Accessed September 2020-September 2022. URL: delta-intkey.com; Zhengyi et al. 2004+Zhengyi et al. 2004+:
Zhengyi W, Raven PH, and Deyuan H. 2004+. Flora of China [online]. 25 vols. Science Press, Beijing China & Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis USA. Accessed January–March 2024. http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.