Lilium lancifolium
Encyclopedia
Lilium lancifolium is a species of lily
native to northern and eastern Asia
, including Japan
. It is one of several species of lily to which the common name Tiger lily
is applied, and is the species most widely known by this name.
s are borne on an erect stem 80–200 cm tall, clothed with the more or less linear leaves
6–10 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. It is one of a very small number of species that produce aerial bulb
lets, known as bulb
ils, 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.
s. It is also grown as an ornamental plant
for its bold flowers, and has become naturalised
in parts of North America
.
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.
Lilium
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
native to northern and eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, including Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is one of several species of lily to which the common name Tiger lily
Tiger lily
-Botany:* Lilium catesbaei, a lily species native to southeastern North America* Lilium columbianum, a lily native to western North America* Lilium henryi, an orange lily native to central China...
is applied, and is the species most widely known by this name.
Growth
Like other true lilies, the flowerFlower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are borne on an erect stem 80–200 cm tall, clothed with the more or less linear leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
6–10 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. It is one of a very small number of species that produce aerial bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
lets, known as bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
ils, 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.
Cultivation and uses
It is cultivated in Asia for its edible bulbBulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s. It is also grown as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
for its bold flowers, and has become naturalised
Naturalisation (biology)
In biology, naturalisation is any process by which a non-native organism spreads into the wild and its reproduction is sufficient to maintain its population. Such populations are said to be naturalised....
in parts of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
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.
Sub-species
Named sub-species in cultivation include;- flaviflorum (Makino), yellow flowers.
- fortunei (Matthews), large form with woolly stems,
- splendens (Matthews), vigorous plant with larger flowers.