As defined in the Flora of West tropical Africa (1968), this is a family of sympodial herbs with strap-shaped, mainly supervolute leaves ± pseudopetiole, having parallel veins converging at the leaf tip, perennating by rhizomes, stem tubers or bulbs. Flowers are three-part in terminal inflorescences lacking bracteoles and with superior ovaries. There are genera with leafy aerial stems and rosette herbs in which the only aerial axis is a leafless peduncle (scape).

On the basis of a great amount and variety of information (Dahlgren & Clifford, 1982), a new classification is presented (Dahlgren, Clifford & Yeo, 1985)(Table 35.1) in which the Liliaceae as so defined is replaced by six new taxonomic units at the family level. These new families have the advantage of now being as distinct but internally cohesive as for example, the Amaryllidaceae and Iridaceae in Hutchinson & Dalziel's (1927-36) treatment. A synoptic key to the six families is included for convenience (Table 35.2). Each family displays a complex of characters, including easily observed morphological ones.

The largest, most common and widespread genera in the former Liliaceae are the bulbous herbs, now Hyacinthaceae, and two genera with erect ‘rootstocks’ which otherwise resemble the bulbous genera in many features (now Anthericaceae). These two groups of genera are described in Field recognition, below. The remaining genera are all of distinctive habit, possessing welldeveloped, persistent and leafy aerial stems.