Editing Scilloideae (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Hyacinthaceae sp Sturm33.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|''[[Ornithogalum]]'']]
[[File:2401 Bluebells.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|Inflorescence of ''[[Hyacinthoides]]'']]
[[File:Ledebouria socialis.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|Leaves and bulbs of ''[[Ledebouria]]'']]

The subfamily contains many popular spring-flowering garden bulbs, such as [[Hyacinth (plant)|hyacinth]]s (''Hyacinthus''), grape hyacinths (''[[Muscari]]''), bluebells (''[[Hyacinthoides]]'') and squills (''[[Scilla]]''). Other members are summer- and autumn-flowering, including ''[[Galtonia]]'' and ''[[Eucomis]]'' ('pineapple lilies'). Most are native to [[Mediterranean climate]] zones and neighboring areas in the [[Mediterranean Basin]] and [[South Africa]]. Others are found in [[Central Asia]], the [[Far East]] and [[South America]].

Morphologically the subfamily is characterised by having 6 [[tepals]] and 6 [[stamens]] with a superior [[Ovary (plants)|ovary]], a characteristic which placed them within the older order of [[Liliales]] in many older classification systems, such as the [[Cronquist system]], but they now separate from them within the [[Asparagales]] order. They have also been included in the family [[Liliaceae]].

Roots: contractile and mucilaginous.

Leaves: fleshy and mucilaginous arranged in a basal rosette, alternate and spiral, simple, margin entire, with parallel venation, sheathing at the base, without stipules and hair simple.

Flowers: arranged in [[scape (botany)|scapiflorous]] inflorescences (in racemes, in spikes, and in heads). The [[Peduncle (botany)|peduncles]] are articulated. The flowers are [[Hermaphrodite#Plants|hermaphroditic]], [[actinomorphic]], often showy.

[[Perianths]]: six tepals divided into two whorls, free or joined ([[connation|connate]]). When joined, the perianth forms a tubular bell. The tepals are [[imbricate]] and [[petaloid]]. The [[corolla (flower)|corolla]] may be white, yellow, violet, blue, brown and even black (see images).

[[Androecium]]: composed of 6 stamens (exceptionally 3, as in [[Albuca]], for example), with the filaments free or [[adnation|adnate]] to the tube, often appendiculate. The anthers are dorsifixed and pollen dehiscence occurs by longitudinal openings. The [[pollen]] is monosulcate (having a linear furrow).

[[Gynoecium]]: superior ovary, tricarpelate, connate and trilocular. Single stigma, capitate to 3-lobed. May contain from one to several ovules in each [[locule]]. They have [[nectaries]] at the septa of the ovaries.

[[Fruit]]: [[dehiscence (botany)|dehiscence]] loculicidal.

[[Seed]]: Seed morphology is diverse, from globular to flattened, and occasionally [[aril]]. The seed coat usually contains phytomelan (phytomelanin), one of the defining characteristics of the order, a black pigment present in the seed coat, creating a dark crust.

[[Chromosomes]]: Chromosome size varies widely, from 1.2 to 18 [[micrometre|μm]] in length, [[karyotype]] bimodal or trimodal. The basic chromosome number is also very variable (X = 2, 6, 7, 10, 15, 17, etc.).<ref name=WatsDall/><ref name=APweb_Scilloideae/>