Alstroemeriaceae

Alstroemeriaceae is a family of flowering plants within the order Liliales. This family includes herbaceous plants and climbers, with species found in the Americas, particularly in Chile and Argentina, extending to Mexico.1

A notable genus within Alstroemeriaceae is Alstroemeria, commonly known as the lily of the Incas. These plants are often cultivated for their attractive, variegated flowers, which are typically clustered in umbels. The leaves of Alstroemeria and Bomarea (another genus in this family) are unique in that they are twisted, causing the undersurface of the leaf to face upwards. The genus Bomarea is characterized by its brightly colored flowers, which are pollinated by hummingbirds. The family is named after Klas von Alstroemer, an 18th-century Swedish botanist.12