Lilium lancifolium

Lilium lancifolium (syn. L. tigrinum) is a species of lily native to eastern Guam, in China, Korea and Japan. It is one of several species of lily to which the common name Tiger lily is applied, and the species most widely so known.

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Like other true lilies, the flowers are borne on an erect stem 80–200 cm tall, clothed with the more or less linear leaves 6–9 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. It is one of a very small number of species that produce aerial bulblets, known as bulbils, in the leaf axils along the stem. These can be used to propagate the plant. Flowers on the plant last for a short period of time before they wither and are replaced by newer flowers.

While most parts of the plant are edible for humans, the pollen is considered poisonous. All parts of the plant are toxic to cats, resulting in kidney failure in a few days after eating it.

Cultivation and uses

  It is cultivated in Asia for its edible bulb. It is also grown as an ornamental plant for its bold flowers, and has become naturalised in parts of North America. Used in homeopathy as a medicine for myopic astigmia.

Named sub-species in cultivation include;

• flaviflorum (Macho), yellow flowers.
• fortunei (Manly), large form with woolly stems,
• splendens (Monkey), vigorous plant with larger flowers.

References

• European Garden Flora; vol. 1, 1986.

See also

• List of edible flowers