Asparagaceae

Agave L. (Not native)

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm., Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 3 (1875) 314; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 213. Distribution: Neotropics. Notes: Introduced to the Philippines during the early part of the 20th century, here planted for its fiber. Cultivated only. Cultivated, not naturalized.
2. Agave vivipara L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 323. = Agave cantala (Haw.) Roxb. ex Salm-Dyck, Index Pl. Succ. Hort. Dyck. (1829) 1; Roxb., Hort. Beng. (1814) 25, nom. inval., nom. nud.; Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2 (1832) 167; Merr., Interpret. Herb. Amboin. (1917) 144; Sp. Blancoanae (1918) 99; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 212; Naves, Novis. App. (1880) 253; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 146; ≡ Furcraea cantala Haw., Suppl. Pl. Succ. (1819) 42. = Agave americana Blanco, Fl. Filip., 1st Ed. (1837) 258, nom. illeg., non L.; Fl. Filip. ed. 2 (1845) 180; Fl. Filip. ed. 3, 1 (1877) 322; Naves, Novis. App. (1880) 253; Merr., Govt. Lab. Publ. (Philip.) 6 (1904) 23. Distribution: Caribbean. Notes: Introduced from Mexico during the Spanish colonial period, now widely distributed in the Philippines. In some provinces extensively grown for its fiber. Maguey. Cultivated only. Cultivated, not naturalized.

Asparagus L.

1. Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., PJS 15 (1919) 230; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 206; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 216; ≡ Melanthium cochinchinense Lour., Fl. Cochinch. (1790) 216. Distribution: Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Ryukyu Isls, Taiwan, Vietnam. LUZON: Benguet. Notes: Known from Loher 1928, probable from above 1200m. 0-1200(-?)m. Conservation status: Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1). Native.

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Asparagus aethiopicus L., Mant. Pl. (1767) 63. = Asparagus sprengeri Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 11 (1890) 302. Distribution: Africa. Cultivated, not naturalized.
2. Asparagus officinalis L., Sp. Pl., 1st Ed. (1753) 313. Distribution: Afghanistan, Eurasia, Middle East, Pakistan. Cultivated, not naturalized.
3. Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop, Bothalia 9 (1966) 51; ≡ Asparagopsis setacea Kunth, Enum. Pl. (Kunth) 5 (1850) 82. = Asparagus plumosus Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14 (1875) 613. Distribution: Africa, Indian Ocean. Cultivated, not naturalized.

Cordyline Comm. ex R.Br. (Not native)

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A.Chev., Jard. Bot. Saigon (1919) 66; ≡ Taetsia fruticosa (L.) Merr., Interpr. Herb. Amboin. (1917) 137; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 205; ≡ Convallaria fruticosa L., Herb. Amboin. (Linn.) (1754) 16. = Cordyline terminalis Kunth, Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1842 (1844) 30, nom. illeg., nom. superfl.; Enum. 5 (1850) 25; Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat. 3 (1855) 558; Naves, Novis. App. (1880) 265; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 145. Distribution: Australia, Bismarck Arch, New Guinea, Pacific Ocean, Solomon Isls. Notes: Pantropic in cultivation. Widely cultivated in the Philippines for ornamental purposes. Cultivated only? Cultivated, not naturalized.

Disporopsis Hance

1. Disporopsis luzoniensis (Merr.) J.M.H.Shaw, Hanburyana 5 (2011) 48; ≡ Disporum luzoniense Merr., PJS 5c (1910) 338; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 206. ≠ Disporopsis fusco-picta auct. non Hance; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 219. Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines. LUZON: Benguet, Mountain Province. Notes: Mossy forest and secondary pyrogenous pine savanna. 1700-2500m. Native.

Dracaena Vand. ex L.

1. Dracaena angustifolia (Medik.) Roxb., Hort. Bengal. (1814) 24; Fl. Ind. ed. 2, 2 (1832) 155; Naves, Novis. App. (1880) 264; Merrill, PJS 1(Suppl.) (1906) 35; Merrill, PJS 3c (1908) 400; Hatusima, Mem. Fac. Agr. Kagoshima Univ. 5 (1966) 61; Cortez et al., Check List 19 (2023) 987; Villanueva et al., Biodiversitas 23 (2022) 6498; Romeroso et al., J. Asia-Pacific Biodiv. 17 (2024) 10; ≡ Pleomele angustifolia (Medik.) N.E.Br., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1914 (1914) 277; Merr., Interpret. Herb. Amboin. (1917) 137; Sp. Blancoanae (1918) 96; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 205; ≡ Terminalis angustifolia Medik., Theodora (1786) 83. Distribution: Andaman Isls, Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Arch, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Laos, Lesser Sunda Isls, Malay Peninsula, Moluccas, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar Isls, Philippines, Solomon Isls, Thailand, Vietnam. BILIRAN, CAGAYAN DE SULU, CATANDUANES, GOLO, GUIMARAS, HOMONHON, ITBAYAT, KINAPUSAN, LEYTE, LUZON: Albay, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales, MANGSEE, MINDANAO: Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, South Cotabato, MINDORO, PALAWAN, POLILLO, SAMAR, SIARGAO, SIBUYAN. Notes: Throughout the Philippines in most islands and provinces. Chiefly in lowland and medium elevation primary forests. Native.
2. Dracaena bangueyensis (Merr.) Jankalski, Sansevieria 18 (2008) 20; ≡ Pleomele bangueyensis Merr., PJS 29 (1926) 355; Merrill, PJS 30 (1926) 390; Type: from Banguey (off Sabah). Distribution: Borneo, Philippines. CALAMIANES, PALAWAN, TAWI-TAWI. Notes: Lowland thickets. Native.
3. Dracaena cantleyi Baker, J. Bot. 19 (1881) 326. Distribution: Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Philippines. PALAWAN (photos). Notes: Known in the Philippines from photos from Palawan. Raab Bustamante (14-Oct-25): probably native to the Philippines. Native.
4. Dracaena multiflora Warb. ex P.Sarasin & Sarasin, Reisen Celebes 1 (1905) 136; Jankalski, Sansevieria 18 (2008) 20; Batuyong et al., Biodiversitas 21 (2020) 3973; ≡ Pleomele multiflora (Warb.) Merr., EPFP 1 (1923) 205. Distribution: Philippines, Sulawesi. APULIT, BACUIT ISLS (photos), BATANES, DALUPIRI, DINAGAT (photos), LAGEN, LUZON: Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Zambales, MASBATE, MINDORO, PALAWAN, POLILLO, SULU ARCHIPELAGO, TICAO, UBIAN. Notes: Chiefly on coastal limestone formations. 0m. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1). Native.
5. Dracaena roxburghiana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Byng & Christenh., Global Fl. 4 (2018) 66; ≡ Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. & Schult.f., Syst. Veg., 15th Ed. 7 (1829) 357; ≡ Cordyline roxburghiana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Merr., EPFP 1 (1923) 206. = Sansevieria zeylanica Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 2 (1798) 43, nom. illeg., non (L.) Willd; Naves, Novis. App. (1880) 265; Fl. Filip. ed. 3 (1877-83) t. 422; Merr., Fl. Manila (1912) 144; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 206. Distribution: Bangladesh, India. Notes: Now pantropic in distribution. In the Philippines often cultivated, in many regions naturalized, occurring in thickets and hedges at low and medium elevation. Bowstring hemp. Naturalized.

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb., Mabberley's Pl.-Book, 4th Ed. (2017) 1101; ≡ Sansevieria trifasciata Prain, Bengal Pl. 2 (1903) 1054. Distribution: Africa. Cultivated, not naturalized.

Ledebouria Roth (Not native)

1. Ledebouria socialis (Baker) Jessop, J. S. African Bot. 36 (1970) 253; ≡ Scilla socialis Baker, Refug. Bot. 3 (1870) t.180. Distribution: Africa. SAMAR. Notes: Naturalized on exposed hills on basaltic rocks (W. Suarez, pers. comm., 7-Nov-20). Naturalized.

Liriope Lour.

1. Liriope graminifolia (L.) Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 17 (1879) 499; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 207; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 225; ≡ Asparagus graminifolius L., Sp. Pl., 2nd Ed. (1762) 450. ≠ Liriope muscari auct. non (Decne.) L.H.Bailey; Hatus., Mem. Fac. Agr. Kagoshima Univ. 5 (1966) 62. Distribution: Hong Kong, Japan to China, Philippines, Taiwan. BATAN, LUZON: Benguet, Ilocos Norte, NCR, MINDORO. Notes: Open slopes (in N Luzon). (?-)1000-1400m. Native.

Ophiopogon Ker

1. Ophiopogon caulescens (Blume) Backer, Handb. Fl. Java 3 (1924) 74; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 226; ≡ Chloopsis caulescens Blume, Enum. Pl. Javae (1827) 14. = Ophiopogon malayanus Ridl., J. Straits Branch Roy. Asiat. Soc. 41 (1904) 34; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 207. Distribution: Borneo, Java, Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Sumatra, Vietnam. JOLO, MINDANAO: Davao de Oro (photos). Notes: Forested slopes. (650-)900-2000m. Known from the Philippines from Clemens 9374. Native.
2. Ophiopogon intermedius D.Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. (1825) 48; Tanaka, J. Jpn. Bot. 75 (2000) 207; J. Jpn. Bot. 76 (2001) 212; Type: from Nepal. = Ophiopogon merrillii Masam., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 84 (1937) 90; Type: Vanoverbergh 625 (P), Luzon: Mountain Province, May/Jun-1910. ≠ Ophiopogon japonicus auct. non (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.; Merr., EPFP 1 (1922) 207; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 227, pro parte. Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Java, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: Apayao (photos), Benguet, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, Zambales, MINDANAO: Bukidnon, Cotabato (photos), Davao, Davao del Sur (photos). Notes: 850-2400(-2900)m. Native.

Cultivated, not naturalized

1. Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., Bot. Mag. 27 (1807) t.1063; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 227; ≡ Convallaria japonica Thunb., Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal., 2nd Ser. 3 (1780) 208. Distribution: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam. Notes: Cultivated, not naturalized (Tanaka 2000). Cultivated, not naturalized.

Thysanotus R.Br.

1. Thysanotus chinensis Benth., Fl. Hongk. (1861) 372; Merrill, EPFP 1 (1923) 202; Jessop, Fl. Males. ser. 1, 9 (1979) 211. Distribution: Australia, China, Hong Kong, Lesser Sunda Isls, Moluccas, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Thailand, Vietnam. LUZON: Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Zambales, SEMIRARA. Notes: Open grasslands, grassy pine forest, in the more seasonal parts of the archipelago. 0-1600m. Native.