The taxonomic affinities of the genus Ripogonum

The genus Ripogonum J. R. et G. Forst. is usually included in either the Smilacaceae or Liliaceae, but it has been accorded family rank. A numerical taxonomic study of the phenetic relationships of Ripogonum and all genera of the Smilacaceae, Dio-Scoreaceae, Petermanniaceae, Philesiaceae and Luzuriagaceae has been undertaken in terms of 56 characters. The results support the view that Ripogonum is only distantly related to either Smilacaceae or Dioscoreaceae and instead has affinities with Luzuriagaceae. None-the-less Ripogonum merits family status and so Ripogona-ceae are formally validated.