Lilium michauxii
Encyclopedia
Lilium michauxii, commonly known as the Carolina lily can be found in the Southeastern United States
from West Virginia
in the north to Florida
in the south to Texas
in the west. It is most common in the summer months of July and August but can be found blooming as late as October. It was named for the French botanist André Michaux
, who travelled and did research throughout the Southeast.
The common name "Carolina lily" reflects an older taxonomy that used the name Lilium carolinianum for both L. michauxii and L. catesbaei
. Another common name, Turk's cap lily, has been listed for L. michauxii, although L. superbum
(which is very similar in appearance to L. michauxii) shares this common name.
The Carolina lily can grow to 3½ feet tall with flowers 3–4 inches across. Its petals bend backward and are spotted. Colors range from yellow through orange to red for background petal color and from red through purple to brown for the spots.
The Carolina lily is the official state wildflower
of North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the north to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the south to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the west. It is most common in the summer months of July and August but can be found blooming as late as October. It was named for the French botanist André Michaux
André Michaux
André Michaux was a French botanist and explorer.-Biography:Michaux was born in Satory, now part of Versailles, Yvelines. After the death of his wife within a year of their marriage he took up the study of botany and was a student of Bernard de Jussieu...
, who travelled and did research throughout the Southeast.
The common name "Carolina lily" reflects an older taxonomy that used the name Lilium carolinianum for both L. michauxii and L. catesbaei
Lilium catesbaei
Lilium catesbaei, sometimes known as Catesby's lily, pine lily, leopard lily, tiger lily, or southern-red lily is a native of Florida and the coastal regions of the American Southeast, where it usually grows in damp areas. It requires hot, wet, acidic soil, conditions that would normally exclude...
. Another common name, Turk's cap lily, has been listed for L. michauxii, although L. superbum
Lilium superbum
Lilium superbum is a species of true lily native to the eastern and central regions of North America. Common names include, Turk's cap lily, turban lily, swamp lily or American tiger lily...
(which is very similar in appearance to L. michauxii) shares this common name.
The Carolina lily can grow to 3½ feet tall with flowers 3–4 inches across. Its petals bend backward and are spotted. Colors range from yellow through orange to red for background petal color and from red through purple to brown for the spots.
The Carolina lily is the official state wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.