Crimean lily
| Crimean lily | ||||||||||||
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Lilium monadelphum |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lilium monadelphum | ||||||||||||
| M.Bieb. |
The Crimean lily ( Lilium monadelphum ) is a species from the genus of lilies ( Lilium ) in the Liriotypus section (Candidum section) .
description
The Crimean lily is a perennial , herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 50 to 100 centimeters. The bulbs are large and round, they reach a diameter of 5 to 8 cm and are spotted.
The stem is hard and straight, the leaves distributed around the stem are lanceolate and 5–15 cm long.
The plant blooms from May to August with 2 to 20 trumpet- to tiara-shaped nodding flowers. The flowers are wide open and have a strong scent. They consist of six petals turned back. There are three crown- and three sepals , but look very similar. The diameter of a single flower is 6–7 cm. The basic color of the flowers is bright yellow with or without purple dots. The anthers are yellow, the pollen yellow to light orange. The stamens have grown together at the base of the flower to form a tube surrounding the ovary .
The seed of the Crimean lily germinates with a delay - hypogeic .
distribution
The Crimean lily is endemic on the slopes of the Caucasus , in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and in the eastern part of the Lesser Caucasus. It is found at the edges of forests, on mountain meadows and in wastelands at altitudes up to 2100 m above sea level.
Systematics
Besides the nominate Lilium monadelphum . Var monadelphum exists as a variety:
- Lilium monadelphum var. Armenum : stamens not fused to form a tube.
The Crimean lily is a close relative of Lilium szovitsianum , the only difference between the species is that in Lilium szovitsianum the stamens are not fused and the flowers are lighter and more strongly bent back. Also Lilium Kesselringianum is very similar to the Crimean lily, suggesting close relationship. Here the smaller size, the paler flower color with brown points, as well as the shape of the petals and the shorter stamens are the distinguishing criteria.
use
The Crimean lily was introduced to horticulture in the Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden as early as 1800 and has been cultivated since then.
Web links
- Description on efloras.org (in English )
- Description on genus-lilium.com (in German and English )