Plants bulbous perennial herbs, bulbs often with membranous or fibrous outer layers. Leaves basal, sometimes in 2 opposite fans; petioles, when present, forming false stems; blades simple, entire, linear to lanceolate or strap shaped, flat, angular, terete, or fistulose. Inflorescences scapose, with 1-many flowers, usually in umbel-like clusters subtended by 1-several hyaline to membranous bracts, sometime with ephemeral bracts subtending individual flowers. Flowers usually bisexual, radially to slightly bilaterally symmetric; tepals 6, equal to subequal, free or united, sometimes only basally united, sometimes forming a prominent tube; stamens usually 6; filaments free or united into a cup, sometimes more or less flat; anthers with 2-thecae, dorsifixed or versatile, opening by longitudinal slits; ovaries superior, 3-celled, with 1-several ovules per cell; styles 1; stigmas capitate to slightly 3-lobed. Fruits usually capsules with loculicidal or irregular dehiscence, sometimes berries; seeds black or greyish-greenish, globose or flattened; embryos straight or curved, with endosperm.
The family Amaryllidaceae now includes what used to be treated as the Alliaceae. It includes about 75 genera and 1600 species.
