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leopard lily

Lilium pardalinum

California tiger lily, leopard lily, panther lily

Bulbs

branching dichotomously, 2–5.1 × 5.1–19 cm, 0.2–0.5 times taller than long, annual growth evident, generally forming discrete rounded module;

scales usually 2-segmented but often unsegmented or 3-segmented, longest 1–2.7 cm.

rhizomatous, usually branching, continuously scaly, 1.4–5.1 × 3.9–19 cm, 0.2–0.6 times taller than long;

scales sometimes unsegmented but always some 2–4-segmented on each bulb, longest 1–3.3 cm;

stem roots absent.

Stems

to 2.8 m, strongly clonal, forming dense colonies.

to 2.8 m, strongly clonal and thus forming dense colonies, to weakly clonal and forming small colonies or clumps.

Buds

rounded in cross section.

Leaves

± evenly distributed along stem, in 1–5 whorls or partial whorls, 3–18 leaves per whorl, usually horizontal and drooping at the tips, sometimes ± ascending, 8.2–24.5 × 0.9–5.6 cm, 3–12 times longer than wide;

blade usually elliptic, sometimes ± oblanceolate, rarely lanceolate or obovate, margins usually straight but occasionally ± undulate.

usually ± evenly distributed along stem, rarely concentrated proximally, scattered or in 1–6 whorls or partial whorls, 3–19 leaves per whorl, horizontal and drooping at tips to ascending, 4.9–26.5 × 0.3–5.6 cm, 3–34 times longer than wide;

blade usually ± elliptic, wide or narrow, margins usually not undulate, apex acute, often narrowly so;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

Racemes

1–28-flowered.

Inflorescences

racemose, 1–28(–35)-flowered.

Flowers

rarely fragrant;

sepals and petals reflexed 1/4 along length from base, yellow, yellow-orange, or orange proximally, usually darker red-orange to red or sometimes pale orange on distal 1/5–1/4;

sepals (5.9–)6.6–10.4 × 1–2.1 cm;

petals 5.9–10.2 × 1.1–2.5 cm;

stamens strongly exserted;

filaments often parallel over much of length, then spreading widely, diverging 14°–22° from axis;

anthers usually purple, sometimes pale magenta or magenta, rarely yellowish, 1.1–2.2 cm;

pollen orange-brown, rust, red-orange, or deep orange;

pistil 5.6–7.5 cm;

ovary 1.4–2.2 cm;

pedicel 8.4–28 cm.

pendent, usually not fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed 1/4–1/3 along length from base, yellow, yellow-orange, or orange proximally, darker orange to red-orange to red on distal 1/5–3/5 (entirely orange or yellow-orange in subsp. wigginsii), with maroon spots concentrated proximally and always surrounded by yellow or orange if extending into distal reddish zone, conspicuously green abaxially on proximal ± 1/5, not distinctly clawed;

sepals not ridged abaxially, 3.5–10.4 × 0.9–2.2 cm;

petals 3.4–10.2 × 0.9–2.5 cm;

stamens moderately to strongly exserted;

filaments moderately to widely spreading, diverging 7°–22° from axis;

anthers ± magenta or sometimes orange, orange-pink, or pale yellow, 0.5–2.2 cm;

pollen red-brown, red-orange, brown-orange, rust, orange, or yellow;

pistil 3.1–7.5 cm;

ovary 1–2.2 cm;

style green, often pale, rarely sordid;

pedicel 6–32 cm.

Capsules

2.9–5.7 × 1.3–1.9 cm, 2–3.7 times longer than wide.

2.2–5.7 × 1.2–2.1 cm, 1.5–3.7 times longer than wide.

Seeds

147–264.

123–264.

2n

= 24.

Lilium pardalinum subsp. pardalinum

Lilium pardalinum

Phenology Flowering summer (Jun–late Aug).
Habitat Streams and rivers, marshes, seeps, ditches, wet thickets, along coast
Elevation 0–1600 m (0–5200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Quite variable in flower size, color, and leaf size and shape, subsp. pardalinum is the easiest of the western lilies to cultivate. In gardens and in the wild, rhizomes branch regularly to produce clones of stems, and the resulting colonies often become large and the soil matted with bulbs.

Along the length of the Sierra Nevada this subspecies is replaced at higher elevations by congeners: to the north by subsp. shastense, then by L. parvum, and finally by L. kelleyanum in the high Sierra to the south. In the Klamath Mountains it gives way to L. pardalinum subsp. vollmeri in Del Norte County, subsp. wigginsii in northern Humboldt County, and subsp. shastense in northeastern Trinity County. The range disjunction between the Coast Ranges in Santa Barbara County and the peninsular ranges in San Diego County probably exists because L. parryi replaces L. pardalinum subsp. pardalinum in the intervening mountains. Due to its poor condition, a collection from the Tehachapi Mountains—presumably from Kern County where the plant is otherwise unknown—cannot be confirmed as this taxon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Subspecies 5 (5 in the flora).

The subspecies of Lilium pardalinum display a classic pattern of discrete geographical ranges with intervening zones of introgression, and no two occur sympatrically without intermixing. Plants in the hybrid zones are confusing in appearance and cannot be assigned to subspecies. However, each subspecies is fairly well marked within its core distribution. With the exception of subsp. pitkinense, the subspecies of L. pardalinum can be common plants in the proper habitats within their rather narrow distributions.

Leaf size and shape are quite variable in Lilium pardalinum subspecies and often clearly dependent on environment. In populations that typically have narrow, ascending leaves, shaded plants often have wide, horizontal leaves. This hampers taxonomic separation as well as identification, especially of herbarium specimens. Further field study is desirable.

Lilium pardalinum is primarily pollinated by western tiger swallowtails (Papilio rutulus Lucas, family Papilionidae) and pale swallowtails (P. eurymedon Lucas); several species of hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are also important visitors, especially when butterflies are rare.

The Atsugewi, Karok, and Yana ate Lilium pardalinum bulbs steamed or baked in an earth oven (D. E. Moerman 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Sepals and petals uniformly yellow or yellow-orange; sepals 3.5–7.1 cm; anthers pale yellow, 0.5–1.3 cm; pollen yellow or orange; pistil 3.1–4.3 cm; capsules 2.3–4.2 cm; n California, s Oregon.
subsp. wigginsii
1. Sepals and petals ± 2-toned, with yellow or orange proximally, distal 1/5–3/5 darker orange to red; sepals 3.7–10.4 cm; anthers magenta, occasionally purple or orange, 0.5–2.2 cm; pollen yellow to rust; pistil 3.3–7.5 cm; capsules 2.2–5.7 cm; California, s Oregon.
→ 2
2. Sepals (5.9–)6.6–10.4 cm; anthers 1.1–2.2 cm; capsules 2.9–5.7 cm; leaves 3–12 times longer than wide, blade ± elliptic; stems strongly clonal, forming large colonies; California.
subsp. pardalinum
2. Sepals 3.7–8.3 cm; anthers 0.5–1.8 cm; capsules 2.2–4.8 cm; leaves 3–34 times longer than wide, blade elliptic to linear; stems weakly to moderately clonal, sometimes forming small colonies; n California, s Oregon.
→ 3
3. Leaves 7.3–34 times longer than wide, often concentrated proximally, often ascending, sometimes horizontal, blade ± linear; sepals (4.9–)5.3–8.3 cm; anthers 0.6–1.8 cm; pollen usually dark orange; extreme nw California, adjacent s Oregon.
subsp. vollmeri
3. Leaves 3–17 times longer than wide, ± evenly distributed along stem, ± ascending or horizontal, blade ± elliptic; sepals 3.7–7.6 cm; anthers 0.5–1.4 cm; pollen yellow, orange, or red- or brown-orange; n California, s Oregon.
→ 4
4. Pollen red- or brown-orange; anthers magenta; bulb scales usually 2-segmented; n Coast Ranges near Sebastopol, California.
subsp. pitkinense
4. Pollen usually yellow or bright orange; anthers orange to magenta; bulb scales (1–)2–4-segmented; ne California, adjacent s Oregon.
subsp. shastense
Source FNA vol. 26, p. 189. FNA vol. 26, p. 188.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Lilium > Lilium pardalinum Liliaceae > Lilium
Sibling taxa
L. pardalinum subsp. pitkinense, L. pardalinum subsp. shastense, L. pardalinum subsp. vollmeri, L. pardalinum subsp. wigginsii
L. bolanderi, L. canadense, L. catesbaei, L. columbianum, L. grayi, L. humboldtii, L. iridollae, L. kelleyanum, L. kelloggii, L. lancifolium, L. maritimum, L. michauxii, L. michiganense, L. occidentale, L. parryi, L. parvum, L. philadelphicum, L. pyrophilum, L. rubescens, L. superbum, L. washingtonianum
Subordinate taxa
L. pardalinum subsp. pardalinum, L. pardalinum subsp. pitkinense, L. pardalinum subsp. shastense, L. pardalinum subsp. vollmeri, L. pardalinum subsp. wigginsii
Synonyms L. harrisianum, L. pardalinum var. angustifolium, L. roezlii
Name authority unknown Kellogg: Hesperian (San Francisco) 3: 300. (1859)
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