A worldwide family of bulbous or tuberous perennials, many cultivated as ornamentals. There are some 1100 species, with 13 in Western Australia, four native and nine naturalised.

 Agapanthus praecox (agapanthus) is a stout, fleshy-rooted perennial that bears a spherical cluster of sky blue flowers in summer, on stalks 1m high. Found on roadsides and wastelands at Denmark, Albany and the Porongorups, probably establishing from dumped garden rubbish. Native to South Africa.

Amaryllis belladonna (Easter lily). Although usually only persisting from bulbs around homesteads, this South African species is spreading by seed at Arumvale (north of Augusta) into karri and marri forest. The fragrant flowers appear in autumn, before the leaves, then the plant dies back in summer.

Amaryllis belladonna. GK

Leucojum aestivum (snowflake) grows from a bulb, producing a clump of strap-like leaves and stalks up to 60cm tall bearing from one to five nodding white flowers with a green spot towards the tips of the petals. Flowers in spring, dying back each summer. Found around settlement sites between Perth and Bunbury. Prefers good, fertile, moist soil. Native to the Mediterranean.

Leucojum aestivum. RR

Narcissus (daffodils) are Mediterranean plants widely grown in gardens throughout the south-west, and some persist around old settlements, spreading slowly by bulb division. Many of the forms planted are cultivars, but among those persisting the following are most common:
N. pseudonarcissus (daffodil) has a single flower, usually yellow, with a large central trumpet. N. papyraceus (paperwhite) carries four to six fragrant, pure white flowers, 3cm wide, and is found between Perth and York.

Narcissus papyraceus. GK

N. tazetta (jonquil) is a parent of most multiple-flowered cultivars. It has cream petals and a short yellow trumpet and occurs between Perth, Northam and Albany. N. jonquilla is a graceful plant with slender, rush-like leaves and fragrant, yellow and cream flowers in groups of three. Found around Busselton. All flower in winter or early spring.

Narcissus tazetta. PH

Pancratium maritimum (sea daffodil) has a large bulb that produces strap-like leaves and greenish-white, sweetly-scented, daffodil-like flowers in spring. Naturalised at Woodman Point. Native to the Mediterranean.

Pancratium maritimum. GK

A large, mainly tropical family of some 2000 species, usually perennial herbs but also vines, epiphytes or even free-floating aquatics. Western Australia has two native species and five naturalised ones.

 Alocasiabrisbanensis (elephant's ears, cunjevoi) is a perennial with large, arrow-head shaped leaves up to 40cm long, borne on a stalk several metres tall, and sweet-smelling, cream, arum-shaped flowers. It grows in drains at Albany, presumably persisting from dumped garden rubbish. A. brisbanensis is native to Queensland and New South Wales

 Colocasia esculenta (taro) grows in drains and along watercourses in the Darling Range near Perth and on the Swan River estuary. It produces large (up to 60cm long), arrow-head shaped leaves on stalks to 1m long. In Perth it rarely, if ever, sets seed. Also grows in the Kimberley, and is possibly native there, but has more likely been introduced from Indonesia, where it has long been cultivated for its starchy tubers.

Colocasia esculenta. RR

Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) DP is a free-floating aquatic weed originally from South Africa, but it may be native in the far north of the Northern Territory. It grows in still and slow flowing water, where it is capable of forming dense mats, causing considerable disruption to the ecosystem. The inconspicuous flowers are probably produced throughout the year, however, spread is generally by fragmentation of the rhizome system. It has been found around Perth, where it has been the target of eradication efforts and it has recently been found in a garden in Broome.

Pistia stratoides. APB

Zantedeschia aethiopica (arum lily) DP is a widespread and conspicuous weed from the Dandaragan area southwards. Although primarily found in wet, swampy habitats (where it can be extremely troublesome as it impedes water flow, e.g. at Gingin Brook) it grows among heath on sand dunes at Garden Island and forms dense stands in pastures under trees in wetter places from the Chapman River southwards. It is toxic to stock, especially cattle. It was introduced for horticulture and its large flowers, up to 15cm across, are still used in the cut flower trade. The main flowering period is spring to early summer, although some blooms may be found at most times of the year. Native to South Africa.

Zantedeschia aethiopica. JD