Greek asphodelos – ancient name for this and related plants.
Annual or perennial rhizomatous herbs with fleshy roots. Leaves annual in a basal rosette or along stems, sheathing, linear. Flowers widely opening, radially symmetrical, stalked, stalks articulated. Inflorescence a terminal, erect, many-flowered raceme or panicle.Tepals 3+3, free or united basally. Stamens 6, equal, free. Fruit a dehiscent capsule. Seeds winged, black.
12 species from S Europe to the Himalayas.
The rosette leaves; tall racemes of widely opening more or less bilaterally symmetrical flowers with 1 nerved tepals.
Source: (2005). Asphodelaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.