Lilium bulbiferum

Lilium bulbiferum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Liliaceae
Genus:	Lilium
Species:	L. bulbiferum
Binomial name
Lilium bulbiferum L. 1753 not Thunb. 1794
Synonyms
Synonymy Lilium chaixii Maw Lilium aurantiacum Weston Lilium croceum Chaix Lilium pubescens Bernh. ex Hornem. Lilium humile Mill., 1768 Lilium scabrum Moench, 1794 Lilium aurantiacum Weston, 1771 Lilium luteum Gaterau, 1789 Lilium elatum Salisb. Lilium sibiricum Willd. Lilium latifolium Link Lilium fulgens W.H.Baxter Lilium sanguineum Lindl. Lilium fulgens E.Morren ex Spae Lilium haematochroum Lem. Lilium atrosanguineum H.Vilm. Lilium biligulatum Baker Lilium lateritium Baker Lilium pictum Baker plus many names at the varietal level

Lilium bulbiferum, common names orange lily, fire lily or tiger lily, is a herbaceous European plant with underground bulbs, belonging to the lily family. The Latin name bulbiferum of this species, meaning "bearing bulbs", refers to the secondary bulbs on the stem.

Description

Lilium bulbiferum reaches on average 20–90 centimetres (7.9–35.4 in) of height, with a maximum of 120 centimetres (47 in). The bulbs are ovoid, with whitish large and pointed scales and can reach about 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) of diameter. The stem is erect, the leaves are lanceolate, up to 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence has one to five short-haired flowers. They are hermaphroditic and scentless, have six upright tepals, the outer are slightly narrower than the inner ones. The flowers can reach 4-6 centimeters in length and are bright yellow-orange with reddish-brown dots. The stamens are erect, about half as long as the tepals, with red anthers. The style is orange, 35 millimetres (1.4 in) of height. The flowering period extends from May through July.

There are two varieties, Lilium bulbiferum var. croceum (Chaix) Baker in the Western part of the range, and Lilium bulbiferum var. bulbiferum in its Eastern part. Only the last one always produces secondary aerial bulbs (bulbils) in the axils of the upper leaves. These bulbils fall to the ground and mature after two to three years. When manually separated from the stem they can easily used for propagating the plant.

The dwarf plants from the Maritime Alps, formerly described as var. chaixii (Elwes) Stoker, and the large plants from the region of Naples, formerly described as var. giganteum N. Terracc., are now considered as local variants of var. croceum.

Distribution and Habitat

Lilium bulbiferum is widely distribution in much of Europe from Spain to Finland and Ukraine. It grows in mountain meadows and rocks. They prefer calcareous soils in warm, sunny places, but also grows on slightly acid soils. They can be found at an altitude of 500–1,900 metres (1,600–6,200 ft) above sea level.

In culture

The Orange Lily has long been recognised as a symbol of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland.

External links

• Biolib taxon profile
• United States Department of Agriculture Plants profile