Tofieldiaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Tofieldiaceae Takht.

Synonym(s): Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon subfam. Tofieldioideae; Nartheciaceae Fr. ex Bjurzon tr. Tofieldieae

Common name(s): false asphodel family

*Number of genera/species: 4/28

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit a septicidalsepticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, simple or aggregateaggregate:
fruit formed from a single flower with carpels several and distinct
(attached at the base), 2–10 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped
, angledangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles  
in transection, sepalssepal:
a member of the outer envelope of a flower (calyx)
and stylesstyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
persistent, with many seeds. Seeds packed obliquely. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
yellow, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
or chartaceouschartaceous:
papery, papyraceous
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
.

Seeds linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
or fusiformfusiform:
spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
, compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
in transection, 0.6–3 mm long, with or without appendages. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
red, reddish-brown or white. Harperocallis seeds may be dark red with a white decurrent appendage (South American species) or pale yellow with short appendages at both ends (Harperocallis flava). Seeds in H. flava may be straight or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
to twisted. Pleea seeds have a long filiform appendage on one end and a short appendage on the other. Tofieldia seeds have a long filiform appendage at one end, short and broad appendages on both ends, or without any appendages.

Embryo small.

Endosperm copious.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
Size range	2–10 mm long
Shape(s)	oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
Texture	chartaceouschartaceous: papery, papyraceous , leatheryleathery: texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
Surface relief	ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
Color(s)	yellow
Unique features	Yellow, ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary , many seeded with seeds packed obliquely.
Seed
Size range	0.6–3 mm long
Shape(s)	linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
Surface relief	unknown
Color(s)	red, reddish brown, white
Unique features	Red or white, elongate seeds, usually with terminal appendages.
Other
Embryo	small
Nutritive tissue	endosperm copious

Distribution

Scattered throughout the north temperate regions, Northern South America.

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.; Takhtajan 2009Takhtajan 2009:
Takhtajan A. 2009. Flowering plants: Second edition. Springer Nature, Switzerland. 871 pp.; 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.; 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.