ASPHODELACEAE

The Asphodelaceae or aloe family comprises some 400+ species of herbaceous or succulent plants distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The leaves are often arranged in a rosette, and the flowers are borne on a solitary stalk. The genus Aloe, including the archetypal Aloe vera is valued as herbal medicine, but it contains toxins called anthraquinones, which can be cancer-causing. Some African Aloe species even contain the neurotoxic piperidine alkaloid coniine, which is also found in the poison hemlock. Various Asphodelaceae with showy flowers like day lilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are cultivated as ornamental plants. While the phytochemistry of Hemerocallis is not well-studied, it is suspected to contain the alkaloid toxin colchicine, which is otherwise restricted to the family Colchicaceae. 

 

Yellow day lily (Hemerocallis citrina).

 

Orange day lily (Hemerocallis fulva)