Lilium lancifolium
Lilium michauxii
lance-leaf tiger lily, lis tigré, tiger lily
Carolina lily
widely ovoid, 3.5(–8) × 4–8 cm, ca. 0.7–0.8 times taller than wide;
scales broad, unsegmented, longest ca. 3–4 cm;
stem roots usually present.
chunky, 2–3.5 × 2.5–4.4 cm, 0.6–0.9 times taller than long, 2 years’ growth evident;
scales ± loose, unsegmented or rarely 1–2-segmented, longest 1.5–2.6 cm;
stem roots present or rarely absent, often numerous.
white-lanate, purplish, to 2 m. Buds usually flat-sided, somewhat triangular in cross section.
to 1 m. Buds ± triangular in cross section.
scattered, horizontal and drooping at tips, 10–15(–18) × ca. 1.5 cm, ca. 3–6(–10) times longer than wide, distal bearing 1(–3) dark purple axillary bulbils;
blade lanceolate, often narrowly so, margins not undulate, papillose, apex white-lanate, narrowly acute (rounded in distal leaves).
in 2–4(–5) whorls or partial whorls, 3–10(–14) leaves per whorl, ± horizontal or somewhat ascending, especially distal leaves, 3.6–11.1 × 1.5–3.8 cm, 1.8–5.1 times longer than wide;
blade noticeably pale abaxially, oblanceolate, sometimes slightly or narrowly so, or occasionally obovate, texture noticeably fleshy, margins barely to strongly undulate, apex acuminate or sometimes acute, especially in distal leaves;
veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.
racemose, 3–6(–25)-flowered.
umbellate, 1–4-flowered.
pendent, not fragrant;
perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;
sepals and petals reflexed ca. 1/5–1/4 along length from base, orange with many purple-brown spots, not distinctly clawed, 7–10 × 1–2 cm, adaxial base bearing pubescent strip;
sepals not ridged abaxially;
stamens strongly exserted;
filaments very widely spreading, diverging ca. 25° from axis;
anthers purplish, ca. 2 cm;
pollen rust;
pistil 6–9 cm;
pedicel sometimes dichotomous, stout and relatively short, to 10 cm.
pendent, sweetly and strongly fragrant;
perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;
sepals and petals reflexed 1/4–1/3 along length from base, pale green then orange proximally, burnt orange-red distally, usually with numerous fine, dark maroon spots, dull abaxially, not distinctly clawed;
sepals with 2 parallel, often faint abaxial ridges, 5.7–9.7 × 1.4–2.2 cm;
petals 5.7–9.2 × 1.8–2.9 cm;
stamens strongly exserted;
filaments parallel along most of length, then widely spreading, diverging 14°–25° from axis;
anthers purple, 1–2.2 cm;
pollen rust or sometimes rust-brown;
pistil 5–7.6 cm;
ovary 1.4–2.5 cm;
style very pale, often spotted purple;
pedicel 9.3–17.4 cm.
3–4 cm.
often longitudinally winged, 2.4–5.6 × 1.4–2.3 cm, 1.5–3.7 times longer than wide.
not counted.
not counted.
= 24, 36.
= 24.
Lilium lancifolium
Lilium michauxii
Throughout most of modern botanical history this Chinese lily has been known as Lilium tigrinum, but recent nomenclatural reassessment affirms that Thunberg’s description, published sixteen years earlier than Ker Gawler’s, applies to this species. Though many North America species are known vernacularly as tiger lilies, the name is properly applied only to this one. Along with L. candidum, it is considered to be among the earliest domesticated lilies (H. D. Woodcock and W. T. Stearn 1950), no doubt because it is handsome, easy to grow, and the bulbs are edible and substantial. It is widely planted in North America, usually as a sterile triploid that is best propagated from the bulbils.
Perhaps the hardiest garden lily, Lilium lancifolium is a widespread but sporadic garden escape, and roadside lilies near habitation in eastern and northeastern North America are often this species. Despite its general use in gardens, it seems to be naturalized only in the better-watered eastern portion of the continent.
In North America, the tiger lily is rather easily diagnosed by its truly lanceolate and widely sessile alternating leaves that bear dark bulbils on the upper stem. The mature buds are usually high-shouldered and taper rather evenly to a flattish apex with three greenish, terminal, rounded processes. No native lily consistently displays any of these features.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
This is the only fragrant native lily east of the Rocky Mountains. The Carolina lily occurs in well-drained soils, while the three closely related congeners with which it is sympatric, Lilium superbum, L. iridollae, and L. pyrophilum, occur in either wetlands or moist woods. Where it occurs with L. superbum, as it often does along roadsides, L. superbum grows in the adjacent depressions and L. michauxii on the bank. Among its close relatives, its small stature, broad petals, and consistently oblanceolate leaves with undulate margins and acuminate tips are diagnostic. In these features it rather resembles several of the western taxa, especially smaller plants of L. rubescens; vegetative or fruiting herbarium material of the two can be confused. In L. michauxii the leaves are noticeably fleshy and pale abaxially, relatively few in number, and, perhaps because whorls are also few (commonly 2–4), the leaves seem concentrated near the middle of the stem.
This species is less common in the southwestern portion of its range, where it is sometimes encountered in vegetative form in shaded settings that preclude rapid growth and flowering.
Like the other southeastern pendent-flowered lilies, the Carolina lily is pollinated by large swallowtail butterflies including the eastern tiger (Papilio glaucus Linnaeus, family Papilionidae).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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