Lilium catesbaei
Lilium maritimum
pine lily
coast lily
ovoid, 1.6–2.5 × 1.3–2.4 cm, 0.8–1.6 times taller than long, 2 years’ growth evident, newer bearing prominent basal leaves, older with abscission scars;
scales few, loose, unsegmented or 2-segmented, longest 1–1.8 cm;
stem roots usually present, often numerous.
rhizomatous, often irregular, unbranched, continuously scaly, 1.8–4.1 × 3–7.4 cm, 0.3–0.9 times taller than long;
scales usually unsegmented, a few 2-segmented, longest 1.5–3.8 cm;
stem roots absent.
to 0.9 m. Buds rounded in cross section.
to 1.2(–2.3) m, plants on coastal bluffs shorter than 0.25 m. Buds rounded in cross section.
scattered, ascending, distal appressed, 1.8–8.2 × 0.2–1.2 cm, 3.1–10.5 times longer than wide;
blade narrowly elliptic, sometimes linear or slightly oblanceolate, margins not undulate, apex acute, acuminate especially in distal leaves;
veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.
sometimes concentrated proximally, scattered or usually in 1–3 whorls or partial whorls, 3–17 leaves per whorl, horizontal and drooping at tips to ascending, 3.6–17.7 × 0.3–4.7 cm, 2.4–18 times longer than wide;
blade elliptic, sometimes narrowly so, rarely weakly oblanceolate or obovate, margins not undulate, apex acute or narrowly so;
veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.
occasionally umbellate, 1(–3)-flowered.
racemose, 1–13-flowered.
erect, not fragrant;
perianth widely campanulate;
sepals and petals recurved 2/5–1/2 along length from base, crimson or sometimes pink, distinctly clawed, apex very narrowly acute, nectar guides above claws yellow to pale yellow and spotted maroon or magenta, ± equal;
sepals not ridged abaxially, 8.2–12 × 1.2–1.9 cm;
petals at proximal widest point much wider than sepals, 7.6–11.1 × 1.8–3.4 cm;
stamens moderately exserted;
filaments ± parallel to style, barely spreading, diverging 0°–12° from axis, often purple at base;
anthers variously colored tan-orange, brown, peachy magenta, or pale greenish, 0.4–1.6 cm;
pollen burnt orange or dark tan;
pistil 7.6–10.5 cm;
ovary 1.4–3.5 cm;
style pale green, sometimes darker distally;
pedicel 1.8–9.5 cm.
nodding, rarely horizontal, not fragrant;
perianth campanulate;
sepals and petals reflexed or rolled 1/2–4/5 along length from base, red or red-orange, with maroon spots concentrated proximally along longitudinal median and surrounded by light orange or occasionally yellow-green, not distinctly clawed;
sepals not ridged abaxially, 3.4–5 × 0.9–1.3 cm;
petals 3.5–5 × 0.9–1.3 cm;
stamens included;
filaments somewhat spreading, diverging 3°–14° from axis;
anthers light magenta, 0.4–1.2 cm;
pollen orange;
pistil 2.2–3.2 cm;
ovary 1–1.8 cm;
style green;
pedicel 6.3–32 cm.
often ridged along valve margins, 2.2–5.3 × 0.8–1.6 cm, 1.7–3.8 times longer than wide.
2.4–4.1 × 1.2–2 cm, 1.5–2.4 times longer than wide.
not counted.
120–237.
= 24.
= 24.
Lilium catesbaei
Lilium maritimum
The pine lily’s flower is the largest of any North American lily and one of the largest among our native monocots. In small plants it dwarfs and sometimes topples the slender stem. Leaves are small and relatively few and the bulb is petite, and thus resource limitation in smaller plants undoubtedly contributes to the wide range of fruit sizes within populations. In other North American members of the genus, small plants produce one or a few capsules, but typically these approach normal size.
Lilium catesbaei subsp. asprellum Wherry and L. catesbaei var. longii Fernald have been proposed to account for individuals with leaves concentrated toward the middle of the stem or somewhat wide and lacking basal leaves, respectively. These variants are not emphasized here since both are based primarily on vegetative features that vary greatly in most lilies. Isotypes of var. longii are unremarkable, though with somewhat wide leaves, and the broadly overlapping distribution of this variety with nominate populations (A. E. Radford et al. 1968) strongly suggests that such differences are primarily environmentally induced. Variety longii was described from Virginia, and Fernald’s observation that these northern plants lack basal leaves—which I have not investigated in the field—is unsurprising in those colder climates, and best considered in terms of the normal variation within a fairly wide-ranging species.
Although it is not yet rare, widespread alteration of native longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Miller) and slash pine (P. elliottii Engelmann) savanna, especially conversion to even-age pine plantations, is making steady inroads on populations of this most beautiful lily. It is adapted to frequent fires, and their suppression may contribute to this decline.
Lilium catesbaei is pollinated primarily by the palamedes swallowtail [Papilio palamedes (Drury), family Papilionidae], the only swallowtail that is widely endemic to this lily’s coastal plain habitat. Spicebush swallowtails (P. troilus Linnaeus) visit the pine lily less frequently, and their smaller size suggests that they are less effective pollinators than the larger palamedes.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Lilium maritimum is known in California from below San Francisco to about Westport in Mendocino County, and invariably grows within a few miles of the ocean. The coast lily has suffered grave declines in the past century and has been extirpated from the southern part of its range. The recent rediscovery of a population in Marin County at Point Reyes National Seashore is heartening, but development of coastal prairie farther north continues to be a threat.
The combination of nodding habit and campanulate perianth with rolled sepal and petal tips is unique among the North American lilies. Hybrids with Lilium pardalinum are known; these can be clonal and their flowers are morphologically intermediate between the parents.
Lilium maritimum is pollinated sequentially, first by Allen’s [Selasphorus sassin (Lesson), family Trochilidae] and Anna’s hummingbirds [Calypte anna (Lesson)], and later in the blooming cycle by several different bumblebees (Bombus Latrielle, family Apidae).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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