Liriope spicata
Creeping lilyturf
Liriope spicata, commonly known as creeping lily, is a resilient perennial herb valued for its lush, grass-like foliage and delicate purple blooms. Frequently used in landscape design for groundcover, this hardy plant thrives in shade, offering both ornamental beauty and practical ecological benefits in diverse garden environments.
- Scientific name: Liriope spicata
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Asparagaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Liriope.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Asparagaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Liriope | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Liropis spicata, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is referred to as 山麦冬, while in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), the name is written as 山麥冬. This same traditional designation, 山麥冬, is also used in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and in standard Chinese (zh). In Vietnam, the plant is known as Sơn mạch đông (vi).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 山麦冬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 山麥冬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 山麥冬 | Wikidata |
| vi | Sơn mạch đông | Wikidata |
| zh | 山麦冬 | Wikidata |
| ar | ليريوبية سنبلية | Wikidata |
| ru | Лириопе колосистая | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 山麥冬 | Wikidata |
| ko | 개맥문동 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 山麦冬 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across parts of Europe and several regions in Asia. In Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the country of Italy. The species is also widely distributed throughout China, covering diverse climatic zones. Specifically, it can be found in the North-Central, South-Central, and Southeast regions of China. Additionally, the plant's range extends to the island province of Hainan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant is characterized by its specialized underground organs which serve as the primary storage site for nutrients. The most significant feature among its subterranean parts is the presence of a fleshy, tuberous root system. These modified structures allow the plant to persist through unfavorable environmental conditions and facilitate its perennial growth habit.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tuberous root | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| underground organs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| subterranean parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Liriope spicata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fructans.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fructans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Liriope spicata has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoglycemic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Liriope spicata has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, constipation, depression, fatigue, hypoglycemic.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatigue | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insomnia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| restlessness | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |