View source for Liriope (plant)

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Other uses of|Liriope}}
{{Italic title|all=yes|string=Liriope}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|name = Lilyturf
|taxon = Liriope
|image = LyriopeSpicata wb.jpg
|image_caption = Young variegated ''Liriope spicata''
|authority = [[João de Loureiro|Lour.]]
|synonyms_ref=<ref name="truscott"/>
|synonyms=''Globeria'' <small>Raf.</small>
}}

'''''Liriope''''' is a [[genus]] of low, [[Graminoid|grass-like]] flowering plants from [[East Asia|East]] and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name="truscott">[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=279456 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=118708 Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 250, <big>山麦冬属</big> shan mai dong shu, ''Liriope'' Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 190, 200. 1790. ]</ref>

Some species are often used in [[landscaping]] in temperate latitudes.  It may be called "[[lilyturf]]" in [[North America]], although it is neither a true grass (family [[Poaceae]]) nor a lily (genus ''[[Lilium]]''). In the [[APG III system|APG III classification system]], it is placed in the family [[Asparagaceae]], subfamily [[Convallarioideae]] (formerly the family Ruscaceae<ref>{{Citation |last1=Chase |first1=M.W. |last2=Reveal |first2=J.L. |last3=Fay |first3=M.F. |year=2009 |title=A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=132–136 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x|name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free }}</ref>). Like many [[lilioid monocots]], it was once classified with lilies in the family [[Liliaceae]]; it has also been placed in the former family Convallariaceae. The genus was named for the nymph [[Liriope (nymph)|Liriope]] of Greek mythology.

==Background and pronunciation==
''Liriope'' are usually used in the garden for their evergreen foliage as a [[groundcover]]. Some species, e.g., ''L. spicata'', grow aggressively in the right conditions, spreading by runners; hence their nickname, "creeping lilyturf".

In the southeastern [[United States]] ''Liriope'' is sometimes referred to by the common name '''monkey grass''' or '''spider grass'''.

The pronunciation of "Liriope" varies. Commonly recommended pronunciation are {{IPAc-en|l|ᵻ|ˈ|r|aɪ|ə|p|i}} {{respell|lih|RY|ə|pee}} (US),<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref>{{refn|{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|accessdate=2016-01-23|Liriope}}}} and {{IPAc-en|l|ɪəˈr|iː|oʊ|p|eɪ}} {{respell|leer|EE|oh|pay}} (British),<ref name=Coom94>{{Cite book |last=Coombes |first=Allen J. |year=1994 |title=Dictionary of Plant Names |location=London |publisher=Hamlyn Books |isbn=978-0-600-58187-1 |page=108}}</ref> but there are many regional variations.  In the southern United States, for example, it may be pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aɪ|r|oʊ-|p|i}} {{respell|LY|roh|pee}}, {{IPAc-en|l|ɪəˈr|aɪ|oʊ-|p|i}} {{respell|leer|EYE|oh|pee}}, or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪər|i|oʊ|p}} {{respell|LEER|ee|ohp}}.

==Cultivation==
''Liriope muscari'' is perhaps most widespread in cultivation and is considered appropriate for [[USDA Hardiness Zone]]s 6-10.<ref>''Hortus III'', Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, 1976</ref>

Spikes of tiny violet-blue flowers appear in late summer, and will be more prolific with a dose or two of fertilizer early in the season.   A number of variegated varieties are now available to add golden or silver flashes of color to shady situations.

==Species==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image !! Name !! Distribution
|-
|  || ''[[Liriope graminifolia]]''  <small>(L.) Baker</small>  || Philippines; widespread across much of China
|-
| ||''[[Liriope kansuensis]]'' <small>(Batalin) C.H.Wright</small> || Sichuan, Gansu
|-
|  ||''[[Liriope longipedicellata]]''  <small>F.T.Wang & Tang</small>}   || Sichuan
|-
|[[File:Liriope minor 2.JPG|120px]]   || ''[[Liriope minor]]''  <small>(Maxim.) Makino</small>|| Japan, Ryukyu Islands, widespread across much of China
|-
|[[File:Liriope muscari 4.JPG|120px]]   ||''[[Liriope muscari]]'' <small>(Decne.) L.H.Bailey</small>|| Japan, Korea, widespread across much of China
|-
|[[File:Liriope spicata f. koreana kz01.jpg|120px]]   || ''[[Liriope spicata]]'' <small>Lour.</small> || Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Korea, widespread across much of China
|-
|  ||''[[Liriope vernalis]]''  {{au|Avent & Floden}} ||Central China
|-
|  ||''[[Liriope zhejiangensis]]''  {{au|G.H.Xia & G.Y.Li}}||China (Zhejiang)
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Liriope|''Liriope''}}
*{{Wikispecies-inline|Liriope Loureiro|''Liriope''}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1065926}}

[[Category:Asparagaceae genera]]
[[Category:Convallarioideae]]
[[Category:Groundcovers]]
[[Category:Taxa named by João de Loureiro]]