Lilium parryi

Lilium parryi
1880 illustration[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Tribe: Lilieae
Genus: Lilium
Species:
L. parryi
Binomial name
Lilium parryi
Synonyms[2]
  • Lilium parryi var. kessleri Davidson

Lilium parryi, common name lemon lily, is a rare species of lily.[3][4][5]

Lilium parryi is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico where it grows in moist areas in mountain habitats. In California it is currently known from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains and a few remaining spots near Palomar Mountain to the south.[6] It is the only true lily native to Arizona, where a few populations can be found in the Huachuca, Chiricahua, and Santa Rita Mountains.[7] In Mexico, it has been found in mountains in the states of Sonora and Baja California.[2][6][8][9][10]

Lilium parryi is a perennial herb growing erect to about 2 meters in height from a scaly, elongated bulb up to 11 centimetres (4+1⁄3 in) long. The leaves are generally linear in shape, up to 29 centimetres (11+1⁄2 in) long, and usually arranged in whorls around the stem. The inflorescence is a raceme bearing up to 31 large, showy, bright lemon yellow flowers. The trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers have six curling tepals up to 11 centimetres (4+1⁄3 in) long, sometimes with a few reddish spots. There are six stamens tipped with large anthers up to 1.4 centimetres (1⁄2 in) long. The pistil may be 10 centimetres (4 in) long. The flowers are pollinated by hawkmoths,[11] especially Hyles lineata and Sphinx perelegans.[12]

Threats to this species include grazing, recreation, natural flooding and human alterations in water regimes, and horticultural collecting of the bulbs and flowers.

Lilium parryi was named for Charles Christopher Parry (28 August 1823 – 20 February 1890), a British-American botanist and mountaineer.

Idyllwild, California, hosts the Lemon Lily Festival, which celebrates this species.[13]

References

  1. ^ Henry John Elwes: A monograph of the genus Lilium; illustrated by W.H. Fitch. Taylor and Francis, London
  2. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ Watson, Sereno 1878. Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 2: 189. description in English
  4. ^ Watson, Sereno 1878. Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences 2: plates V + VI (5 + 6). line drawings of Lilium parryi
  5. ^ Tropicos, Lilium parryi S. Watson
  6. ^ a b California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
  7. ^ Arizona Game & Fish Department
  8. ^ Biota of North America 2014 county distribution map
  9. ^ CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City.
  10. ^ Calflora taxon report, Lilium parryi S. Watson lemon lily
  11. ^ Flora of North America
  12. ^ Center for Plant Conservation
  13. ^ Lemon Lily Festival Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine

Media related to Lilium parryi at Wikimedia Commons