LILIACEAE

LILY FAMILY

Dale W. McNeal, except as specified

Perennial to trees, from membranous bulb, fibrous corm, scaly rhizome, or erect caudex
Stem generally underground
Leaves generally basal, often withering early, alternate, generally ± linear
Inflorescence various, generally bracted
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; perianth often showy, segments generally 6 in two petal-like whorls (outer sometimes sepal-like), free or fused at base; stamens 6 (or 3 + generally 3 ± petal-like staminodes), filaments sometimes attached to perianth or fused into a tube or crown; ovary superior or inferior, chambers 3, placentas generally axile, style generally 1, stigmas generally 3
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal or septicidal (berry or nut)
Genera in family: ± 300 genera, 4600 species: especially ± dry temp and subtropical; many cultivated for ornamental or food; some TOXIC. Here includes genera sometimes treated in Agavaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and other families.

LILIUM

LILY

Mark W. Skinner

Perennial from bulb-like, scaly rhizomes (called bulbs), generally not clonal, ± glabrous
Stem erect
Leaves ± whorled (often some scattered), sessile, generally ± elliptic; veins generally 3; stipule 0
Inflorescence: flowers axillary, 1–40+; bracts generally 2 per flower
Flower generally radial, generally bell- or trumpet-shaped; perianth segments 6 in 2 petal-like whorls, outer generally ± clawed, generally red-purple-spotted on inner base; stamens 6, anthers attached near middle (measures are after dehiscence); style 1, stigma 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, erect, generally ± smooth, loculicidal
Seeds many, flat, in 6 stacks
Species in genus: ± 90 species: n temp, tropical mtns of e Asia
Etymology: (Greek: lily)
Reference: [Skinner 1988 PhD Harvard Univ]
Variable; hybridization common. Many species declining from habitat destruction and collecting; few thrive in gardens. Generally flowers May to Aug.

Native

L. washingtonianum Kellogg

WASHINGTON LILY

Plant < 3 m, often glaucous; bulb ± horizontal to erect, ± ovoid, oblique, or ± rhizome-like, scales 0–2-segmented, longest 3–12 cm
Leaves in 1–9 whorls, horizontal to nearly clasping stem, 3–13 cm, generally oblanceolate; margin wavy or not
Inflorescence: flowers 1–26, nodding to ascending
Flower generally slightly bilateral, ± trumpet-shaped, strongly fragrant; perianth segments 6–12 cm, generally weakly recurved (outer < inner), strongly oblanceolate (inner wider), inner surface white or becoming deep pink, magenta spots minute; stamens < or > perianth, filaments ± parallel, anthers 8–15 mm, off-white or cream, pollen yellow or cream; pistil 2–11 cm
Fruit 2.5–6 cm
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Conifer forest, especially gaps, burned clearcuts
Elevation: 400–2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: Oregon

Native

subsp. purpurascens (Stearn) M.W. Skinner

PURPLE-FLOWERED SHASTA LILY

Bulb ascending to erect; most scales indistinctly 2(3)-segmented
Flower: perianth segments 6–10 cm, 33–50% recurved, becoming deep pink, generally purplish (often faintly so) outside, yellow midstripe generally 0; anthers cream, becoming yellow, pollen pale (bright) yellow
Fruit generally ribbed
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Douglas-fir forest
Elevation: 400–1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges
Distribution outside California: Oregon
Synonyms: var. p. Stearn
Horticultural information: DRN, SHD, DRY in summer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17; DFCLT.