Bunchflower Family: Melanthiaceae

The bunchflower family is another group of lily-like plants that once belonged to the lily family. Subfamilies of the lily family have been promoted to their own family groups. Like all lilies, members of the bunchflower family are monocots, characterized by flower parts in threes with parallel veins in the leaves. Most family members have bunches of little white or greenish flowers – but not trillium, common in the northeast which usually has large, single flowers. Apparently, there is enough genetic evidence to keep the group together and separate from other lily-like plants. Members include trillium, false hellebore, death camas (yes, poisonous), and turkeybeard.