Page "Asparagales" Paragraph 28

The family includes some 150 species with a worldwide distribution, excluding Europe and northern Asia.

Species can be recognized by their rosettes of more or less folded leaves with persistent bases and quite prominent nonglandular hairs.

The tepals in the outer whorl tend to be green on the outside.

The ovary is inferior with often a thin tubular portion at its apex formed by joined tepals or the tip of the ovary.