''Arthropodium'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
herbaceous perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
s in the subfamily
Lomandroideae
Lomandroideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales, according to the APG III system of 2009. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, '' Lomandra''. The group ...
of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Asparagaceae. It is native to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Madagascar.
[Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families](_blank)
/ref>
The rhizomes of some species can be eaten as root vegetables, including ''A. cirratum'', ''A. milleflorum'', ''A. minus'', and ''A. strictum''.
''A. cirratum'' is native to New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, where it may once have been farmed. It is used for medicine as well as food, and has symbolic importance in traditional Māori culture
Māori culture () is the customs, cultural practices, and beliefs of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand. It originated from, and is still part of, Eastern Polynesian culture. Māori culture forms a distinctive part of New Zealand cu ...
.
Species recognised as of July 2014:[, search for "Dichopogon"]
*'' Arthropodium bifurcatum'' Heenan, A.D.Mitch. & de Lange - New Zealand North Island
*'' Arthropodium caesioides'' H.Perrier - Madagascar
*'' Arthropodium candidum'' Raoul - New Zealand North and South Islands
* '' Arthropodium cirratum'' (G.Forst.) R.Br. - rengarenga, renga lily, New Zealand rock lily, or maikaika - New Zealand North and South Islands
*'' Arthropodium curvipes'' S.Moore - Western Australia
*'' Arthropodium dyeri'' (Domin) Brittan - Western Australia
*'' Arthropodium milleflorum'' (Redouté) J.F.Macbr. - pale vanilla lily - New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania
*'' Arthropodium minus'' R.Br. - small vanilla lily - New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania
*'' Arthropodium neocaledonicum'' Baker - New Caledonia
;Formerly included
*''Arthropodium fimbriatum'' R.Br. – see '' Dichopogon fimbriatus''
*''Arthropodium strictum'' R.Br. - chocolate lily – see '' Dichopogon strictus''
See also
* List of plants known as lily Lily usually refers to herbaceous plants of the genus ''Lilium'', with large showy trumpet-shaped flowers. Many species are cultivated as ornamentals.
Many other plants not closely related to lilies are called lilies, usually because their flowers ...
References
External links
Significance of ''A. cirratum'' in Maori culture
Plants for a Future database on ''A. milleflorum''
Photograph of underground parts of ''A. milleflorum''
Root vegetables
Asparagaceae genera
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