''Lilium'' () is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of herbaceous

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are native to the northern hemisphere and their range is

temperate climate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

s and extends into the subtropics. Many other plants have "lily" in their common names, but do not belong to the same genus and are therefore not true lilies.

Description

Lilies are tall

perennials A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

ranging in height from . They form naked or tunicless scaly underground bulbs which are their organs of

perennation In botany, perennation is the ability of organisms, particularly plants, to survive from one germinating season to another, especially under unfavourable conditions such as drought or winter. It typically involves development of a perennating orga ...

. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found. Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are buried deep in the ground, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out

adventitious Important structures in plant development are buds, shoots, roots, leaves, and flowers; plants produce these tissues and structures throughout their life from meristems located at the tips of organs, or between mature tissues. Thus, a living plan ...

roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb, a number of species also produce contractile roots that move the bulbs deeper into the soil. Lily, petal

The flowers are large, often fragrant, and come in a wide range of colors including whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. The plants are late spring- or summer-flowering. Flowers are borne in racemes or

umbel In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...

s at the tip of the stem, with six

tepals A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very ...

spreading or reflexed, to give flowers varying from funnel shape to a "Turk's cap". The tepals are free from each other, and bear a

nectary Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualist ...

at the base of each flower. The ovary is 'superior', borne above the point of attachment of the anthers. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

is a three-celled capsule.European Garden Flora; Volume 1 2012-01-04 17-57-36-lys

Seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

s ripen in late summer. They exhibit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climates. Most cool temperate species are

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...

and dormant in winter in their native environment. But a few species native to areas with hot summers and mild winters (''

Lilium candidum ''Lilium candidum'', the Madonna lily or white lily, is a plant in the true lily family. It is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary ...

'', ''

Lilium catesbaei ''Lilium catesbaei'', sometimes known as Catesby's lily, pine lily, leopard lily, tiger lily, or southern-red lily is a native of Florida and the coastal regions of the American Southeast, where it usually grows in damp areas from Louisiana to V ...

'', ''

Lilium longiflorum ''Lilium longiflorum'' (Japanese: テッポウユリ, ''Teppōyuri''), often called the Easter lily, is a plant endemic to both Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands (Japan). '' Lilium formosanum'', a closely related species from Taiwan, has been treated as ...

'') lose their leaves and enter a short dormant period in summer or autumn, sprout from autumn to winter, forming dwarf stems bearing a basal rosette of leaves until, after they have received sufficient chilling, the stem begins to elongate in warming weather. Lilium candidum MHNT

The basic

chromosome number Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectivel ...

is twelve (n=12).

Taxonomy

Taxonomical division in

sections Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

follows the classical division of Comber, species acceptance follows the

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (usually abbreviated to WCSP) is an "international collaborative programme that provides the latest peer reviewed and published opinions on the accepted scientific names and synonyms of selected pla ...

, the taxonomy of section ''Pseudolirium'' is from the Flora of North America, the taxonomy of Section ''Liriotypus'' is given in consideration of Resetnik et al. 2007, the taxonomy of Chinese species (various sections) follows the Flora of China and the taxonomy of Section ''Sinomartagon'' follows Nishikawa et al. as does the taxonomy of Section ''Archelirion''. The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, , considers ''

Nomocharis ''Nomocharis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. It consists of about 7 species native to montane regions of western China, Myanmar, and northern India. They are similar to ''Lilium'', with one of the more obvious differenc ...

'' a separate genus in its own right, however some authorities consider ''Nomocharis'' to be embedded within ''Lilium'', rather than treat it as a separate genus. The Sinomartagon are divided in 3 paraphyletic groups, while the Leucolirion are divided in 2 paraphyletic groups. There are seven sections: *''Martagon'' *''Pseudolirium'' *''Liriotypus'' *''Archelirion'' *''Sinomartagon'' *''Leucolirion'' *''Daurolirion'' There are 111 species counted in this genus. For a full list of accepted species with their native ranges, see

List of Lilium species List of ''Lilium'' species. The genus ''Lilium'' is within the tribe Lilieae of the subfamily Lilioideae, in the family Liliaceae of the order Liliales. List Species of ''Lilium'' currently accepted, with approximate native ranges, include: ...

. Some species formerly included within this genus have now been placed in other genera. These genera include ''

Cardiocrinum ''Cardiocrinum'' is a genus of bulbous plants of the lily family first described in 1846. They are native to the Himalaya, China, the Russian Far East, and Japan. The bulbs are usually formed at the soil surface. The preferred habitat is woodlan ...

'', '' Notholirion'', ''

'' and ''

Fritillaria ''Fritillaria'' (fritillaries) is a genus of spring flowering herbaceous bulbous perennial plants in the lily family (Liliaceae). The type species, ''Fritillaria meleagris'', was first described in Europe in 1571, while other species from the ...

''.

Etymology

The botanic name ''Lilium'' is the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

form and is a Linnaean name. The Latin name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

word ''leírion'', generally assumed to refer to true, white lilies as exemplified by the

Madonna lily ''Lilium candidum'', the Madonna lily or white lily, is a plant in the true lily family. It is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary ...

. The word was borrowed from

Coptic Coptic may refer to: Afro-Asia * Copts, an ethnoreligious group mainly in the area of modern Egypt but also in Sudan and Libya * Coptic language, a Northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the 17th century * Coptic alphabet ...

(dial. Fayyumic) , from standard , from

Demotic Demotic may refer to: * Demotic Greek, the modern vernacular form of the Greek language * Demotic (Egyptian), an ancient Egyptian script and version of the language * Chữ Nôm, the demotic script for writing Vietnamese See also * * Demos (disa ...

, from

Egyptian Egyptian describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of years of ...

"flower".

Meillet Paul Jules Antoine Meillet (; 11 November 1866 Moulins, France – 21 September 1936 Châteaumeillant, France) was one of the most important French linguists of the early 20th century. He began his studies at the Sorbonne University, where he wa ...

maintains that both the Egyptian and the Greek word are possible loans from an extinct, substratum language of the Eastern Mediterranean. grc, κρῖνον, label=, , was used by the Greeks, albeit for lilies of any color. The term "lily" has in the past been applied to numerous flowering plants, often with only superficial resemblance to the true lily, including water lily, fire lily, lily of the Nile,

calla lily Calla lily is a common name of several members of the family Araceae. It may refer to: * ''Calla palustris'' * ''Zantedeschia'' generally ** ''Zantedeschia aethiopica ''Zantedeschia aethiopica'', commonly known as calla lily and arum lily, is a ...

trout lily ''Erythronium'', the fawn lily, trout lily, dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, is a genus of Eurasian and North American plants in the lily family, most closely related to tulips. The name Erythronium derives from Ancient Greek () "red" in ...

kaffir lily Kaffir lily is a common name which may refer to the following ornamental plants: * '' Clivia miniata'' in the family Amaryllidaceae * '' Hesperantha coccinea'' syn. ''Schizostylis coccinea'' in the family Iridaceae Iridaceae is a family of pla ...

, cobra lily,

lily of the valley Lily of the valley (''Convallaria majalis'' (), sometimes written lily-of-the-valley, is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native throughout the cool temperate No ...

daylily A daylily or day lily is a flowering plant in the genus ''Hemerocallis'' , a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. Despite the common name, it is not in fact a lily. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long ...

, ginger lily, Amazon lily,

leek lily ''Bulbine semibarbata'', commonly known as leek lily, native leek or wild onion, is a species of annual herb native to Australia. Description It grows as an annual herb from 7 to 45 centimetres high, with yellow flowers. Taxonomy It was first ...

Peruvian lily ''Alstroemeria'' (), commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Alstroemeriaceae. They are all native to South America, although some have become naturalized in the United States, Me ...

, and others. All English translations of the Bible render the Hebrew ''shūshan'', ''shōshan'', ''shōshannā'' as "lily", but the "lily among the thorns" of '' Song of Solomon'', for instance, may be the honeysuckle.

Distribution and habitat

The range of lilies in the Old World extends across much of Europe, across most of Asia to Japan, south to India, and east to Indochina and the Philippines. In the New World they extend from southern Canada through much of the United States. They are commonly adapted to either woodland habitats, often

montane Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial ...

, or sometimes to grassland habitats. A few can survive in marshland and epiphytes are known in tropical southeast Asia. In general they prefer moderately acidic or lime-free soils.

Ecology

Lilies are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of some Lepidoptera species including the

Dun-bar The dun-bar (''Cosmia trapezina'') is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common Palearctic species. Distribution The species occurs throughout almost the whole of Europe. In the north, the range extends to Middle Fennoscandia, in the east t ...

. The proliferation of deer (e.g. ''

Odocoileus virginianus The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

'') in North America, mainly due to factors such as the elimination of large predators for human safety, is responsible there for a downturn in lily populations in the wild and is a threat to garden lilies as well. Fences as high as 8 feet may be required to prevent them from consuming the plants, an impractical solution for most wild areas.

Cultivation

Many species are widely grown in the garden in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

sub-tropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north a ...

and

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

regions. Numerous ornamental hybrids have been developed. They are used in herbaceous borders, woodland and shrub plantings, and as patio plants. Some lilies, especially ''

'', form important

cut flower Cut may refer to: Common uses * The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely-directed force ** A type of wound ** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past ** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment ** Cut ( ...

crops or potted plants. These are forced to flower outside of the normal flowering season for particular markets; for instance, ''Lilium longiflorum'' for the Easter trade, when it may be called the Easter lily. Lilies are usually planted as bulbs in the dormant season. They are best planted in a south-facing (northern hemisphere), slightly sloping aspect, in sun or part shade, at a depth 2½ times the height of the bulb (except ''

'' which should be planted at the surface). Most prefer a porous, loamy soil, and good drainage is essential. Most species bloom in July or August (northern hemisphere). The flowering periods of certain lily species begin in late spring, while others bloom in late summer or early autumn. They have contractile roots which pull the plant down to the correct depth, therefore it is better to plant them too shallowly than too deep. A soil pH of around 6.5 is generally safe. Most grow best in well-drained soils, and plants are watered during the growing season. Some species and cultivars have strong wiry stems, but those with heavy flower heads are staked to stay upright.

Awards

The following lily species and cultivars currently hold the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017): Lilium Golden Splendour3

*African Queen Group (VI-/a) 2002 H6 *'Casa Blanca' (VIIb/b-c) 1993 H6 *'Fata Morgana' (Ia/b) 2002 H6 *'Garden Party' (VIIb/b) 2002 H6 *Golden Splendor Group (VIb-c/a) *''

Lilium henryi ''Lilium henryi'' (), sometimes called tiger lily or Henry's lily, is a native lily of the mountains of central China (Provinces of Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi). The flowers are orange, spotted black, and unscented. The petals are recurving (bent ba ...

'' (IXc/d) 1993 H6 * '' Lilium mackliniae'' (IXc/a) 2012 H5 * ''

Lilium martagon ''Lilium martagon'', the martagon lily or Turk's cap lily, is a Eurasian species of lily. It has a widespread native region extending from Portugal east through Europe and Asia as far east as Mongolia. Description It is stem-rooting, growing be ...

'' – Turk's cap lily (IXc/d) * ''

Lilium pardalinum ''Lilium pardalinum'', also known as the leopard lily or panther lily, is a flowering bulbous perennial plant in the lily family, native to Oregon, California, and Baja California. It usually grows in damp areas. Its range includes California c ...

'' – leopard lily (IXc/d) *Pink Perfection Group (VIb/a) * '' Lilium regale'' – regal lily, king's lily (IXb/a)

Classification of garden forms

Numerous forms, mostly hybrids, are grown for the garden. They vary according to the species and interspecific hybrids that they derived from, and are classified in the following broad groups:

Asiatic hybrids (Division I)

File:Lilium canadense.JPG File:Dwarf Asian Lily Tiny Dessert (closeup).jpg File:Lilium %27Navona%272.jpg File:Lily Festival 2009 Neepawa Manitoba Canada %2816%29.JPG File:Lilium Cappuccino.jpg File:Lilium Dimension.JPG : These are derived from hybrids between species in ''Lilium''

section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

''Sinomartagon''. : They are derived from central and East Asian species and interspecific hybrids, including '' Lilium amabile'', ''

Lilium bulbiferum ''Lilium bulbiferum'', common names orange lily, fire lily, Jimmy's Bane and tiger lily, is a herbaceous European lily with underground bulbs, belonging to the Liliaceae. The Latin name ''bulbiferum'' of this species, meaning "bearing bulbs", r ...

'', '' Lilium callosum'', '' Lilium cernuum'', ''

Lilium concolor ''Lilium concolor'' (also known as morning star lily) is a species of flowering plant in the ''Liliaceae, lily family'' which occurs naturally in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. Its relationship with other species is not clear, although it has so ...

'', '' Lilium dauricum'', ''

Lilium davidii ''Lilium davidii'' is an Asian species of plants in the lily family, native to mountainous areas of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet, Bhutan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan.Mao, A.A. & Bhaumik, M. (2007). Notes on ''Lilium ...

'', '' Lilium × hollandicum'', ''

Lilium lancifolium ''Lilium lancifolium'' (syn. ''L. tigrinum'') is an Asian species of lily, native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East. It is widely planted as an ornamental because of its showy orange-and-black flowers, and sporadically occurs as ...

'' (syn. '' Lilium tigrinum''), '' Lilium lankongense'', ''

Lilium leichtlinii ''Lilium'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. M ...

'', '' Lilium × maculatum'', ''

Lilium pumilum ''Lilium pumilum'' is an Asian species of bulbous plants native to Mongolia, Siberia, the Russian Far East The Russian Far East (russian: Дальний Восток России, r=Dal'niy Vostok Rossii, p=ˈdalʲnʲɪj vɐˈstok rɐˈsʲi ...

'', '' Lilium × scottiae'', '' Lilium wardii'' and ''

Lilium wilsonii is a plant in the lily family native to Japan. Etymology Its Japanese name is , literally "see-through lily" or perhaps "openwork lily", originates from the gaps between its tepals.Lilium 'Navona'. * Dwarf (Patio, Border) varieties are much shorter, c.36–61 cm in height and were designed for containers. They often bear the cultivar name 'Tiny', such as the 'Lily Looks' series, e.g. 'Tiny Padhye', 'Tiny Dessert'.

Martagon hybrids (Division II)

File:Lilium %27Claude Shride%27 2013 013.JPG File:Lilium %27Kalna Karalis%27 2013 015.JPG File:Lilium %27Manitoba Fox%27 007.JPG File:Lilium %27Mrs R.O.Backhouse%27 (cropped).jpg File:Lilium %27Slate%27s Morning%27.jpg File:Lilium, Hare Hill, Cheshire 2c.jpg :These are based on '' Lilium dalhansonii'', '' Lilium hansonii'', ''

'', ''

Lilium medeoloides ''Lilium medeoloides'' is an East Asian herb in the Liliaceae, lily family. It is native to southeast China, Jeju-do in Korea, Japan and eastern Russia (Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin), where it grows in forests and on grassy and rocky subal ...

'', and ''

Lilium tsingtauense ''Lilium tsingtauense'', also known as twilight lily, is an East Asian species of plants in the lily family. It is native to Korea and eastern China (Anhui + Shandong Provinces). ''Lilium tsingtauense'' is an herb up to 85 cm tall, growi ...

''. :The flowers are nodding, Turk's cap style (with the petals strongly recurved).

Candidum (Euro-Caucasian) hybrids (Division III)

File:Lilium x testaceum.jpg : This includes mostly European species: ''

'', ''

Lilium chalcedonicum ''Lilium chalcedonicum'' is a European species of Liriotypus lily, native to Tuscany, Greece and Albania. Classification The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 on Mount Chalcedon in Thessaly, under its current name. Ιn additio ...

'', ''

Lilium kesselringianum ''Lilium kesselringianum'' is a large herbaceous member of the lily family. It is native to North Caucasus, North and South Caucasus as well as northern Turkey. It grows from sea level along the Black Sea up into the mountains to subalpine level ...

'', '' Lilium monadelphum'', '' Lilium pomponium'', ''

Lilium pyrenaicum ''Lilium pyrenaicum'' (Pyrenean lily, yellow Turk's-cap lily, yellow martagon lily) is native to montane regions, mainly the Pyrenees, from Spain and eastwards, with the range extending into the Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a ...

'' and '' Lilium × testaceum''.

American hybrids (Division IV)

: These are mostly taller growing forms, originally derived from '' Lilium bolanderi'', '' Lilium × burbankii'', ''

Lilium canadense ''Lilium canadense'', commonly called either the Canada lily, wild yellow-lily, or the meadow lily, is a native of eastern North America. Its native range extends from Ontario to Nova Scotia south to Georgia and Alabama. It is most common in New ...

'', ''

Lilium columbianum ''Lilium columbianum'' is a lily native to western North America. It is also known as the Columbia lily, Columbia tiger lily, or simply tiger lily (sharing the latter common name with several other lily species in its genus). Distribution and ha ...

'', '' Lilium grayi'', ''

Lilium humboldtii ''Lilium humboldtii'', or Humboldt's lily, is a species of lily native to the US state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California. It is named after naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. It is native to the South High Casca ...

'', '' Lilium kelleyanum'', ''

Lilium kelloggii ''Lilium kelloggii'' is a species of lily known by the common name Kellogg's lily. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, where it grows in forests, including those dominated by redwoods. ''L ...

'', ''

Lilium maritimum ''Lilium maritimum'' is a species of lily known by the common name coast lily. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the coastline north of San Francisco. It formerly occurred south of San Francisco, but these occurrences have ...

'', ''

Lilium michauxii ''Lilium michauxii'', commonly known as the Carolina lily,Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium (1976). ''Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada''. Macmillan, ...

'', '' Lilium michiganense'', ''

Lilium occidentale ''Lilium occidentale'' is a rare North American species of lily known by the common name western lily. Its species name 'Occidentale' means 'westernmost' and refers to its location along the West Coast. It is native to northwestern California a ...

'', '' Lilium × pardaboldtii'', ''

'', '' Lilium parryi'', '' Lilium parvum'', '' Lilium philadelphicum'', '' Lilium pitkinense'', ''

Lilium superbum ''Lilium superbum'' is a species of true lily native to the eastern and central regions of North America. Common names include Turk's cap lily, turban lily, swamp lily, lily royal, or American tiger lily. The native range of the species extends ...

'', '' Lilium ollmeri'', ''

Lilium washingtonianum ''Lilium washingtonianum'' is a North American plant species in the lily family.Kellogg, Albert. 1859. Hesperian (San Francisco) 3: 340 It is also known as the Washington lily, Shasta lily, or Mt. Hood lily. It is named after Martha Washington a ...

'', and '' Lilium wigginsii''. :Many are clump-forming perennials with rhizomatous rootstocks.

Longiflorum hybrids (Division V)

: These are cultivated forms of this species and its subspecies. :They are most important as plants for

cut flowers Cut flowers are flowers or flower buds (often with some stem and leaf) that have been cut from the plant bearing it. It is usually removed from the plant for decorative use. Typical uses are in vase displays, wreaths and garlands. Many garde ...

, and are less often grown in the garden than other hybrids.

Trumpet lilies (Division VI), including Aurelian hybrids (with ''L. henryi'')

File:Lilium x African Queen.jpg File:Lilium %27Fanfare%27.jpg File:Lilium Pink Perfection1f.UME.jpg File:Lilium x Dresdener Romance.jpg File:Lilium x aurelianense1MTFL.jpg : This group includes hybrids of many Asiatic species and their interspecific hybrids, including '' Lilium × aurelianense'', '' Lilium brownii'', '' Lilium × centigale'', ''

'', '' Lilium × imperiale'', '' Lilium × kewense'', '' Lilium leucanthum'', '' Lilium regale'', '' Lilium rosthornii'', ''

Lilium sargentiae ''Lilium'' () is a genus of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in mu ...

'', '' Lilium sulphureum'' and '' Lilium × sulphurgale''. :The flowers are trumpet shaped, facing outward or somewhat downward, and tend to be strongly fragrant, often especially night-fragrant.

Oriental hybrids (Division VII)

File:Oriental hybrid1 (cropped).jpg File:Smithsoniangardens1.jpg File:Lilium Dizzy.jpg File:Lilium x Universe.jpg File:Lilium Golden Stargazer.jpg File:Lilium %27Marco Polo%27 Flower 2580px.jpg : These are based on hybrids within ''Lilium''

''Archelirion'', specifically ''

Lilium auratum ''Lilium auratum'' ( ja, 山百合, yamayuri, label=none, literally "mountain lily") is one of the true lilies. It is native to Japan and is sometimes called the golden-rayed lily or the goldband lily. Description The flower colour is typica ...

'' and '' Lilium speciosum'', together with crossbreeds from several species native to Japan, including ''

Lilium nobilissimum ''Lilium'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. ...

'', ''

Lilium rubellum ''Lilium'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. M ...

'', '' Lilium alexandrae'', and '' Lilium japonicum''. :They are fragrant, and the flowers tend to be outward facing. Plants tend to be tall, and the flowers may be quite large. The whole group are sometimes referred to as "stargazers" because many of them appear to look upwards. (For the specific cultivar, see ''Lilium'' 'Stargazer'.)

Other hybrids (Division VIII)

File:Lilium 'Royal Trinity' 03.JPG File:Lilium x Sea Treasure.jpg File:Lilium x Red Alert.jpg File:Lilium 'Anastasiya' 03.JPG File:Lily -- Lilium 'Tiny Double You'.jpg, File:Lilium 'Eyeliner' 06.JPG File:Dwarf Asiatic Lily Hybrid-Lilium 'Matrix'-Offnfopt 4635.JPG : Includes all other garden hybrids.

Species (Division IX)

: All natural species and naturally occurring forms are included in this group. The flowers can be classified by flower aspect and form: * Flower aspect: :*a up-facing :*b out-facing :*c down-facing * Flower form: :*a trumpet-shaped :*b bowl-shaped :*c flat (or with tepal tips recurved) :*d tepals strongly recurved (with the Turk's cap form as the ultimate state) Many newer commercial varieties are developed by using new technologies such as ovary culture and embryo rescue.

Pests and diseases

Aphids Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white woolly aphids. A t ...

may infest plants. Leatherjackets feed on the roots.

Larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of the

Scarlet lily beetle The scarlet lily beetle, red lily beetle, or lily leaf beetle (''Lilioceris lilii''), is a leaf beetle that eats the leaves, stem, buds, and flowers, of lilies, fritillaries and other members of the family Liliaceae. It lays its eggs most often ...

can cause serious damage to the stems and leaves. The scarlet beetle lays its eggs and completes its life cycle only on true lilies (''Lilium'') and fritillaries (''

''). Oriental, rubrum, tiger and trumpet lilies as well as Oriental trumpets (orienpets) and Turk's cap lilies and native North American ''Lilium'' species are all vulnerable, but the beetle prefers some types over others. The beetle could also be having an effect on native Canadian species and some rare and endangered species found in northeastern North America. Daylilies (''Hemerocallis'', not true lilies) are excluded from this category. Plants can suffer from damage caused by mice, deer and squirrels. Slugs, snails and millipedes attack seedlings, leaves and flowers. Brown spots on damp leaves may signal an infection of '' Botrytis elliptica'', also known as Lily blight, lily fire, and botrytis leaf blight. Various viral diseases can cause mottling of leaves and stunting of growth, including lily curl stripe, ringspot, and lily rosette virus.

Propagation and growth

Lilies can be propagated in several ways; * by division of the bulbs * by growing-on

bulbil A bulbil (also referred to as bulbel, bulblet, and/or pup) is a small, young plant that is reproduced vegetatively from axillary buds on the parent plant's stem or in place of a flower on an inflorescence. These young plants are clones of the par ...

s which are

bulbs formed on the stem * by scaling, for which whole scales are detached from the bulb and planted to form a new bulb * by seed; there are many seed germination patterns, which can be complex * by

micropropagation Micropropagation or tissue culture is the practice of rapidly multiplying plant stock material to produce many progeny plants, using modern plant tissue culture methods. Micropropagation is used to multiply a wide variety of plants, such as th ...

techniques (which include

tissue culture Tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism. This technique is also called micropropagation. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth medium, su ...

); commercial quantities of lilies are often propagated

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology ...

and then planted out to grow into plants large enough to sell. A highly efficient technique for multiple shoot and propagule formation was given by Yadav et al., in 2013. Plant grow regulators(PGRs) are used to limit the height of lilies, especial those sold as potted plants; commonly used

chemical A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., w ...

s include ancymidol, fluprimidol, paclobutrazol, and uni-conazole, which are applied to the foliage and retard the biosynthesis of

gibberellin Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones that regulate various developmental processes, including stem elongation, germination, dormancy, flowering, flower development, and leaf and fruit senescence. GAs are one of the longest-known classes of plan ...

s, a class of plant hormones responsible for stem growth.

Toxicity

Some ''Lilium'' species are toxic to

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

s. This is known to be so especially for ''

'', though other ''Lilium'' and the unrelated ''

Hemerocallis A daylily or day lily is a flowering plant in the genus ''Hemerocallis'' , a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. Despite the common name, it is not in fact a lily. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long ...

'' can also cause the same symptoms. The true mechanism of toxicity is undetermined, but it involves damage to the renal tubular epithelium (composing the substance of the kidney and secreting, collecting, and conducting urine), which can cause acute

kidney failure Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as eit ...

. Veterinary help should be sought, as a matter of urgency, for any cat that is suspected of eating any part of a lily – including licking pollen that may have brushed onto its coat.

Culinary uses

Chinese cuisine

Lily bulbs are starchy and edible as root vegetables, though bulbs of some species may be too bitter to eat. ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''viridulum'', known as 百合 (''pak hop''; ), is one of the most prominent edible lilies in China. Its bulbs are large in size and not bitter. They were even exported and sold in the San Francisco Chinatown in the 19th century, available both fresh and dry. A landrace called 龍牙百合 () mainly cultivated in

Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi ...

and

Jiangxi Jiangxi (; ; formerly romanized as Kiangsi or Chianghsi) is a landlocked province in the east of the People's Republic of China. Its major cities include Nanchang and Jiujiang. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze river in the north int ...

is especially renowned for its good-quality bulbs. '' L. lancifolium'' () is widely cultivated in China, especially in

Yixing Yixing () is a county-level city administrated under the prefecture-level city of Wuxi in southern Jiangsu province, China, and is part of the Yangtze River Delta. The city is known for its traditional Yixing clay ware tea pots. It is a pene-exc ...

, Huzhou and Longshan. Its bulbs are slightly bitter. ''L. davidii'' var. ''unicolor'' () is mainly cultivated in Lanzhou and its bulbs are valued for sweetness. Other edible Chinese lilies include ''L. brownii'' var. ''brownii'', ''L. davidii'' var. ''davidii'', '' L. concolor'', '' L. pensylvanicum'', '' L. distichum'', ''L. martagon'' var. ''pilosiusculum'', '' L. pumilum'', '' L. rosthornii'' and ''L. speciosum'' var. ''gloriosoides''. Researchers have also explored the possibility of using ornamental cultivars as edible lilies. The dried bulbs are commonly used in the south to flavor soup. They may be reconstituted and

stir-fried Stir frying () is a cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. The technique originated in China and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of Asia and t ...

, grated and used to thicken soup, or processed to extract starch. Their texture and taste draw comparisons with the

potato The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern Unit ...

, although the individual bulb scales are much smaller. The commonly marketed "lily" flower buds, called 金针菜 (''kam cham tsoi''; ) in

Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many o ...

, are actually from

daylilies A daylily or day lily is a flowering plant in the genus ''Hemerocallis'' , a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. Despite the common name, it is not in fact a lily. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long ...

, '' Hemerocallis citrina'', or possibly '' H. fulva''. Flowers of the '' H. graminea'' and ''

'' were reported to have been eaten as well, but samples provided by the informant were strictly daylilies and did not include ''L. bulbiferum''. Lily flowers and bulbs are eaten especially in the summer, for their perceived ability to reduce internal heat. A 19th century English source reported that "Lily flowers are also said to be efficacious in pulmonary affections, and to have tonic properties". Asiatic lily cultivars are also imported from the Netherlands; the seedling bulbs must be imported from the Netherlands every year. The parts of ''Lilium'' species which are officially listed as food material in Taiwan are the flower and bulbs of ''

'', ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''viridulum'', ''

'' and ''

''.

Japanese cuisine

The lily bulb or ''yuri-ne'' is sometimes used in Japanese cuisine. It may be most familiar in the present day as an occasional in the chawan-mushi (savoury egg custard), where a few loosened scales of this optional ingredient are found embedded in the "hot pudding" of each serving. It could also be used as an ingredient in a clear soup or . The boiled bulb may also be strained into

purée A purée (or mash) is cooked food, usually vegetables, fruits or legumes, that has been ground, pressed, blended or sieved to the consistency of a creamy paste or liquid. Purées of specific foods are often known by specific names, e.g., apple ...

for use, as in the sweetened ''kinton'', or ''chakin-shibori''.

Yokan

There is also the ''yuri-

yōkan is a wagashi (Japanese confection) made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form, and eaten in slices. There are two main types: ''neri yōkan'' and ''mizu yōkan''. "Mizu" means "water", and indicates that it i ...

'', one recipe of which calls for combining measures of yuri starch with agar dissolved in water and sugar. This was a specialty of

Hamada, Shimane is a city located in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It is the third largest city in the prefecture and is located at the southwestern end of the prefecture. It is a coastal city on the Sea of Japan and possesses beautiful white sand beaches, which ...

, and the shop established in 1885 became famous for it. Because a certain Viscount Jimyōin wrote a

waka Waka may refer to: Culture and language * Waka (canoe), a Polynesian word for canoe; especially, canoes of the Māori of New Zealand ** Waka ama, a Polynesian outrigger canoe ** Waka hourua, a Polynesian ocean-going canoe ** Waka taua, a Māori w ...

poem about the confection which mentioned ''hime-yuri'' "princess lily", one source stated that the ''hime-yuri'' (usually taken to mean '' L. concolor'') had to have been used, but another source points out that the city of Hamada lies back to back with across a mountain range with Fuchu, Hiroshima which is renowned for its production of ''yama-yuri'' ('' L. auratum'').

Species used

Current Japanese governmental sources (c. 2005) list the following lily species as prominent in domestic consumption: the ''oni yuri'' or tiger lily ''

'', the ''kooni yuri'' ''Lilium leichtlinii'' var. ''maximowiczii'', and the gold-banded white ''yama-yuri'' ''L. auratum''. But Japanese sources c. 1895–1900, give a top-three list which replaces ''kooni yuri'' with the named from the gaps between the

. There is uncertainty regarding which species is meant by the ''hime-yuri'' used as food, because although this is usually the common name for L. concolor in most up-to-date literature, it used to ambiguously referred to the tiger lily as well, c. 1895–1900. The non-tiger-lily ''himeyuri'' is certainly described as quite palatable in the literature at the time, but the extent of exploitation could not have been as significant.

North America

The flower buds and roots of

are traditionally gathered and eaten by North American indigenous peoples.

Coast Salish The Coast Salish is a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak one of the Coa ...

Nuu-chah-nulth The Nuu-chah-nulth (; Nuučaan̓uł: ), also formerly referred to as the Nootka, Nutka, Aht, Nuuchahnulth or Tahkaht, are one of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in Canada. The term Nuu-chah-nulth is used to describe fifte ...

and most western

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

peoples steam, boil or pit-cook the bulbs of ''

''. Bitter or peppery-tasting, they were mostly used as a flavoring, often in soup with meat or fish.

Medicinal uses

Traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of acti ...

list the use of the following: 野百合 '' Lilium brownii'', 百合 ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''viridulum'', 渥丹 ''

'', 毛百合 '' Lilium dauricum'', 卷丹 ''

'', 山丹 ''

'', 南川百合 '' Lilium rosthornii'', 药百合'' Lilium speciosum'' var. ''gloriosoides'', 淡黄花百合 '' Lilium sulphureum'' In Taiwan, governmental publications list ''

'' Thunb., ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''viridulum'' Baker, ''

'' DC. In the ''

kanpō was a , also known as Kampō, after ''Genbun'' and before '' Enkyō.'' This period spanned the years from February 1741 through February 1744. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1741 : Based on the belief in Chinese astrology that the ...

'' or Chinese medicine as practiced in Japan, the official Japanese governmental

pharmacopeia A pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia, or pharmacopoea (from the obsolete typography ''pharmacopœia'', meaning "drug-making"), in its modern technical sense, is a book containing directions for the identification of compound medicines, and published by ...

includes the use of lily bulb (known as in traditional pharmacological circles), listing the use of the following species: ''

'', '' Lilium brownii'', ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''colchesteri'', ''

''
index
The scales flaked off from the bulbs are used, usually steamed. In South Korea, the lilium species which are officially listed for medicinal use are 참나리 ''

'' Thunberg; 당나리 ''Lilium brownii'' var. ''viridulun'' Baker;

In culture

Symbolism

In the Victorian

language of flowers Floriography (language of flowers) is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years, and some form of floriography has been practiced in tradition ...

, lilies portray love, ardor, and affection for your loved ones, while orange lilies stand for happiness, love, and warmth. Lilies are the flowers most commonly used at funerals, where they symbolically signify that the soul of the deceased has been restored to the state of innocence. '' Lilium formosanum'', or Taiwanese lily, is called "the flower of broken bowl" () by the elderly members of the

Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...

ethnic group. They believe that because this lily grows near bodies of clean water, harming the lily may damage the environment, just like breaking the bowls that people rely on. An alternative explanation is that parents convince children into not taking the lily by convincing the children that their dinner bowls may break if they destroy this flower. In Western Christianity, Madonna lily or ''

'' has been associated with the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

since at least the Medieval Era. Medieval and Renaissance depictions of the Virgin Mary, especially at the Annunciation, often show her with these flowers. Madonna lilies are also commonly included in depictions of

Christ's resurrection The resurrection of Jesus ( grc-x-biblical, ἀνάστασις τοῦ Ἰησοῦ) is the Christian belief that God raised Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion, starting – or restoring – his exalted life as Christ and Lord ...

. ''

'', the Easter lily, is a symbol of Easter, and ''

'', the Madonna lily, carries a great deal of symbolic value in many cultures. See the articles for more information.

Heraldry

The ''

fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

'', associated primarily with French royalty, is a stylized lily flower. ''

'' has long been recognised as a symbol of the Orange Order in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. '' Lilium mackliniae'' is the state flower of

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of ...

. ''

'', the Carolina lily, is the official state flower of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

. Idyllwild, California, hosts the Lemon Lily Festival, which celebrates '' Lilium parryi''.Lemon Lily Festival
Lilium philadelphicum is the floral emblem of

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

province in Canada, and is on the

flag of Saskatchewan The provincial flag of Saskatchewan was adopted in 1969. It is blazoned ''per fess vert and or, in the fly a prairie lily slipped and leaved proper, in the dexter chief an escutcheon of the coat of arms of Saskatchewan fimbriated argent''. The sy ...

., designated in 1941.

Other plants referred to as lilies

Lily of the valley Lily of the valley (''Convallaria majalis'' (), sometimes written lily-of-the-valley, is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native throughout the cool temperate No ...

, flame lilies,

, and

water lilies ''Water Lilies'' (or ''Nymphéas'', ) is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings by French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840–1926). The paintings depict his flower garden at his home in Giverny, and were the main focus of his artisti ...

are symbolically important flowers commonly referred to as lilies, but they are not in the genus ''Lilium''.

Explanatory notes

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * * * "yuri ユリ", in , digested from ''Shin shikunshi''. ** Seika-en Sanjin 精花園山人 "Hana-yuri 花百合", in

External links

The Plant List

Online Lily Register, over 9400 entries ''Lilium''

North American Lily Society

Royal Horticultural Society Lily Group

123
Time-lapse videos
THE GENUS LILIUM
*

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20130605062624/http://www.liliumbreeding.nl/polygon.htm Crossing polygon of the genus Lilium
Bulb flower production » Lilies, International Flower Bulb Centre

Lily Picture Book, International Flower Bulb Centre

Flora

Flora Europaea: ''Lilium''

Flora of China: ''Lilium''

Flora of Nepal: ''Lilium'' species list

Flora of North America: ''Lilium''
{{Authority control Bulbous plants Garden plants Liliaceae genera Root vegetables Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus