Hereunder
is a partial list of monocot families and other information relevant to plant
classification. It has already been discussed that classification of plants
into various groupings is important in agriculture. For example, having leaves
with penni-parallel venation is a useful guide in identifying crops under the
order Zingiberales (gingers and bananas).
Agricultural crops belonging to the same family also possess common characteristics knowledge of which may become useful in their culture. They may have similar adaptation or be a host to the same pest or pathogen. In conventional plant breeding, hybridization within the same family through interspecific and intergeneric crosses have yielded successful results.
This list was made largely from Simpson (2010). Supplementary information from other references are attached such as alternative common names of families and representative crops.
Family Names of Monocot Plants* | Order | Representative Genera / Crops |
1. Agavaceaea (Agave family) | Asparagales | Agave: A. cantala (Maguey, fiber crop); Yucca |
2. Alliaceaea (Onion family) | Asparagales | 13 genera e.g. Allium: A. cepa (Onion, spice crop); Ipheion, Leucocoryne, Tulbaghia |
3. Amaryllidaceaea (Amaryllis family) | Asparagales | 59 genera e.g. Amaryllis: A. belladona (Belladona lily, ornamental crop); Crinum, Galanthus, Hippeastrum, Leucojum, Lycoris, Narcissus |
4. Araceae (Arum or Gabi family) | Alismatales | 104 genera e.g. Colocasia: C. esculenta (Taro or Gabi), Alocasia, Xanthosoma (food crops, root and tuber crops); Aglaonema, Anthurium, Caladium, Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Philodendron, Spathiphylum, Syngonium, Zantedeschia (ornamental crops); Lemna, Pistia (aquatic plants); Wolffia (smallest flower, aquatic), Amorphophallus titanum (among the biggest inflorescences) |
5. Arecaceae or Palmae (Palm family) | Arecales | Areca: A. catechu (Betel nut); Arenga, Cocos, Elaeis, Metroxylon, Phoenix, Washingtonia, Lodoicea maldivica (biggest seed), Rhapia spp. (largest leaves), Calamus (rattan) |
6. Asparagaceaeb | Asparagales | Asparagus: A. officinalis (Vegetable Asparagus) |
7. Asphodelaceaec (Asphodel or Aloe family) | Asparagales | 15 genera e.g. Aloe: A. vera (Aloe or sabila); Asphodelus, Bulbine, Gasteria, Haworthia, Kniphofia |
8. Bromeliaceae (Bromeliad or Pineapple family) | Poales | Ananas: A. comosus (Pineapple, fruit and fiber crop); Aechmea, Neoregalia, Puya, Tillandsia |
9. Cannaceae (Canna-Lily family) | Zingiberales** | 1 genus i.e, Canna: Canna spp. (Spanish flag, Bandera española, ornamental crop) |
10. Colchicaceae | Liliales | Colchicum: C. autumnale (Autumn Crocus); Burchardia |
11. Commelinaceae (Spiderwort family) | Commelinales | Commelina: C. diffusa (Climbing dayflower); Rhoeo, Cyanotis, Tradescantia, Zebrina |
12. Costaceae | Zingiberales** | Costus: C. speciosus (Common spiral ginger) |
13. Cyclanthaceae | Pandanales | Carludovica palmata (source of fiber used in making Panama hats) |
14. Cyperaceae (Sedge family) | Poales | 104 genera e.g. Cyperus: C. alternifolius (Umbrella plant, ornamental crop); Carex, Eleocharis, Scirpus |
15. Dioscoreaceae (Yam or Ubi family) | Dioscoreales | 4 genera e.g. Dioscorea: D. alata (Yam, tuber crop); Stenomeris, Tacca, Trichopus |
16. Eriocaulaceae (Pipewort family) | Poales | 10 genera e.g. Eriocaulon: E. decangulare (Ten-angled pipewort); Leiothrix, Paepalanthus, Syngonanthus (used as floral “everlasting”) |
17. Heliconiaceae | Zingiberales** | Heliconia: H. humilis (Common lobster claw, ornamental crop) |
18. Iridaceae (Iris family) | Asparagales | 70 genera e.g. Iris: I. reticulata (Reticulated Iris, ornamental crop); Crocus, Dietes, Freesia, Gladiolus |
19. Juncaceae (Rush family) | Poales | 7 genera e.g. Juncus: J. effusus (Soft rush); Distichia |
20. Liliaceae (Lily family) | Liliales | 16 generae.g. Lilium: L. longiflorum (White Trumpet Lily, ornamental crop); Tulipa, Calochortus, Erythronium, Fritillaria, Medeola |
21. Marantaceae (Arrow Root family) | Zingiberales** | Maranta: M. arundinacea (Arrow root, root crop); Calathea, Thalia |
22. Musaceae (Banana family) | Zingiberales** | 3 genera e.g. Musa: Musa spp. (Banana, fruit crop; Abaca, fiber crop); Ensete, Musella |
23. Orchidaceae (Orchid family) | Asparagales | 700-800 genera e.g. Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda: V. sanderiana (waling-waling orchid, ornamental crop), Vanilla |
24. Pandanaceae (Screw-Pine or Pandan family) | Pandanales | 3 genera e.g. Pandanus: P. tectorius (Screw Pine, fiber crop); Freycinetia |
25. Poaceae or Gramineae (Grass family) | Poales | 668 genera e.g. Avena, Hordeum, Sorghum, Oryza, Triticum, Zea (cereal crops); Bambusa, Dendrocalamus (bamboos); Saccharum: S. officinarum (sugarcane, sugar crop); Cymbopogon (lemon grass, spice, essential-oil crop); Brachiaria, Cynodon, Panicum, Pennisetum (forage crops); Axonopus, Paspalum, Zoysia (turfgrasses) |
26. Pontederiaceae (Pickerel-Weed or Pondweed or Water Hyacinth family) | Commelinales | Pontederia: P. cordata (Pickerel weed); Eichhornia, Heteranthera, Monochoria |
27. Smilacaceae (Green briar family) | Liliales | Smilax: S. bracteata (Sarsaparilla) |
28. Strelitziaceae (Bird-of-paradise family) | Zingiberales** | 3 genera e.g. Strelitzia: S. reginae (Bird of Paradise, ornamental crop); Phenakospermum, Ravanela |
29. Typhaceaed (Cattail family) | Poales | 1 genus: Typha: T. angustifolia (Cattail, aquatic ornamental crop and food crop) |
30.Xanthorrhoeaceaec | Asparagales | Xanthorrhoea: X. australis (Grass-tree, ornamental crop) |
31. Xyridaceae (Yellow-eyed-grass or Xyris family) | Poales | 5 genera e.g. Xyris: X. pauciflora (grass-like weed), Abolboda, Achlyphila, Aratitiyopea, Orectanthe |
32. Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) | Zingiberales** | Zingiber: Z. officinalis (Ginger, spice crop), Alpinia, Curcuma, Elettaria, Hedychium |
REFERENCES
CULLINA W. 2008. Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. 256.
MERRILL ED. 1912. A Flora of Manila. Manila: Bureau of Printing. 491 p.
SIMPSON MG. 2010. Plant Systematics. 2nd ed. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Inc. 740 p.
STEINER ML. 1986. Philippine Ornamental Plants and Their Care. 3rd ed. Las Pinas, Metro Manila: M&L Licudine Enterprises. 233 p.
THE ESSENTIAL GARDENING ENCYCLOPEDIA. 2003. San Francisco, CA: Fog City Press. 608 p.
(Ben G. Bareja Oct. 2012)
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