Lilium michauxii | |
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L. michauxii Poir. [as syn. L. carolinianum Michx. ] (left) [1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Liliaceae |
Subfamily: | Lilioideae |
Tribe: | Lilieae |
Genus: | Lilium |
Species: | L. michauxii |
Binomial name | |
Lilium michauxii | |
Synonyms [5] | |
Lilium michauxii, commonly known as the Carolina Lily, is a wildflower native to the southeastern United States, thriving in dry, sandy soils of upland forests and ridges. It is the only fragrant lily species native east of the Rocky Mountains. Known for its vibrant orange to red flowers adorned with dark spots, the Carolina Lily blooms from July to October, providing vital nectar for pollinators such as butterflies.
The species was named in honor of French botanist André Michaux, who documented it during his explorations of North America in the 18th century. The Carolina Lily is the official state wildflower of North Carolina, symbolizing the state's rich biodiversity and natural heritage. [6] [7]
The Carolina Lily belongs to the family Liliaceae. The common name reflects an older taxonomy in which the name L. carolinianum was applied to both L. michauxii and L. catesbaei. Another common name for this species is Turk's Cap Lily, though L. superbum, a closely related species, also shares this name. Synonyms for L. michauxii include: [5]
The scientific name honors French botanist André Michaux for his contributions to botany in North America. [6]
The Carolina Lily can grow up to 3.5 ft (1.1 m) tall, producing vibrant flowers that are 3–4 in (76–102 mm) across. Its striking petals curve backward and are adorned with dark purple spots, creating a distinctive appearance. The color of the petals ranges from yellow to red, with some flowers exhibiting shades of orange or purple.
This lily is unique for being the only fragrant lily species native east of the Rocky Mountains. Its leaves are arranged in whorls along the stem, a characteristic feature of this plant.
Native to the southeastern United States, the Carolina Lily thrives in dry upland forests, sandy slopes, and ridges. Its range includes southern Virginia, the Carolinas, the Florida Panhandle, and eastern Texas. This species is well-adapted to nutrient-poor soils, which makes it an important part of its native ecosystems.
The Carolina Lily plays a vital role in its environment, attracting a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and bees. These interactions are essential for maintaining the health and biodiversity of the ecosystems where the lily is found.
In 2003, the Carolina Lily was designated the official state wildflower of North Carolina. Its selection underscores its symbolic importance in representing the state's rich natural heritage. The species also carries historical significance, as it was first documented by André Michaux during his exploration of North American flora in the late 18th century.
The Carolina Lily is currently listed as "Apparently Secure" (G4) by NatureServe. [2] However, it faces threats from habitat destruction, urbanization, and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting its native habitats and raising awareness about its ecological importance. [2]
Trillium erectum, the red trillium, also known as wake robin, purple trillium, bethroot, or stinking benjamin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. The plant takes its common name "wake robin" by analogy with the European robin, which has a red breast heralding spring. Likewise Trillium erectum is a spring ephemeral plant whose life-cycle is synchronized with that of the forests in which it lives. It is native to the eastern United States and eastern Canada from northern Georgia to Quebec and New Brunswick.
Lilium lancifolium 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 a garden escapee in North America, particularly the eastern United States including New England, and has made incursions into some southern states such as Georgia.
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. 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 climates 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. True lilies are known to be highly toxic to cats.
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 Islands, Mexico, and other regions. It has been cultivated since antiquity, for at least 3,000 years, and has great symbolic value since then for many cultures. It is susceptible to several virus diseases common to lilies, and especially to Botrytis fungus. One technique to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants from seed instead of bulblets.
Clintonia borealis is a species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae. The specific epithet borealis means "of the north," which alludes to the fact that the species tends to thrive in the boreal forests of eastern Canada and northeastern United States.
Lilium philadelphicum, also known as the wood lily, flame lily, Philadelphia lily, prairie lily, or western red lily, is a perennial species of lily native to North America.
Lilium canadense, commonly called the Canada lily, wild yellow-lily, or 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 England, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Canadian Maritimes. It is also cultivated as an ornamental in Europe and other places.
Hemerocallis fulva, the orange day-lily, tawny daylily, corn lily, tiger daylily, fulvous daylily, ditch lily or Fourth of July lily, is a species of daylily native to Asia. It is very widely grown as an ornamental plant in temperate climates for its showy flowers and ease of cultivation. It is not a true lily in the genus Lilium, but gets its common name from the superficial similarity of its flowers to Lilium and from the fact that each flower lasts only one day.
Nymphaea odorata, also known as the American white waterlily, fragrant water-lily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, white water lily, sweet-scented white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily, is an aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It can commonly be found in shallow lakes, ponds, and permanent slow moving waters throughout North America where it ranges from Central America to northern Canada. It is also reported from Brazil and Guyana.
Geranium carolinianum is a species of geranium known by the common name Carolina crane's-bill, or Carolina geranium. This species is native to North America, where it is widespread and grows in many types of habitat. There are two varieties; Geranium carolinianum var. carolinianum and the Geranium carolinianum var. sphaerospermum. This is a summer or winter annual herb. It can be considered invasive depending on the region, when it is found in the United States it is considered to be native.
Agastache foeniculum, commonly called anise hyssop, blue giant hyssop, Fragrant giant hyssop, or the lavender giant hyssop, is a species of perennial plant in the mint family, (Lamiaceae). This plant is native to much of north-central and northern North America. It is tolerant of deer and drought, and is visited by many pollinators.
Lilium grayi is a perennial plant that is endemic to the eastern US states of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, growing in moist, acid soil in the Appalachian Mountains on higher elevation meadows, bogs, and seeps. The plant was introduced to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1890 and was featured in the Kew Bulletin in 1892.
Lilium iridollae is a species of "true lily". A perennial forb, it is one of nine known Lilium species native to the eastern North America. In 1940, this species was discovered by Mary Henry in its habitat. She named the lily in reference to a "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow".
Lilium pyrophilum, the sandhills lily, is a North American species of plant in the lily family. It is endemic to the Sandhills region of southern Virginia, North Carolina and northern South Carolina, in the eastern United States.
Crinum americanum is an aquatic angiosperm native to North America from Texas to South Carolina, as well as Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Common names for this species include Florida swamp-lily, string lily, and southern swamp crinum. The species grows in small groups in still water habitats.
Clethra acuminata, the mountain pepper bush, is a shrub native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It has been reported from the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, primarily from deciduous forests at elevations of 500–1,400 m (1,600–4,600 ft).
Liparis liliifolia, known as the brown widelip orchid, lily-leaved twayblade, large twayblade, and mauve sleekwort, is a species of orchid native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, shrublands, thickets, woodlands, and mountains. The orchid is considered globally secure, but it is considered rare or endangered in many northeastern states.
Lilium philippinense, commonly known as the Benguet lily, or Philippine lily, is a lily native to Taiwan and to the Cordillera region, primarily to the province of Benguet, in the northern Philippines. This flower has several native names like us-usdong, kanyon and sabong ti bantay.
Cirsium carolinianum is a North American species of plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. Common name is Carolina thistle or purple thistle or soft thistle or smallhead thistle. The species is native to the central and southern United States, from eastern Texas east to Virginia and the Carolinas, north to the Ohio Valley.
Pycnanthemum muticum commonly known as clustered mountain mint is a plant from the mountain mint genus Pycnanthemum that is native to the eastern United States. It grows in well watered dappled woodlands and meadows in the wild. It is also planted in gardens because it is highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.