‘True’ And ‘False’ Lilies

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 6

‘True’ And ‘False’ Lilies

There are many plants with names that are misnomers. One of the most prominent is the so called lily. The tr ue lily belongs to the family Miaceae to which belong herbs, shrubs, a few trees and climbers, of worldwide distribution, found mainly in the temperate and sub-tropical regions. The family of some 200 genera, contains about 2500 species, most of which are herbaceous perennials with some annuals, and a few woody species. Development is usually from bulbs, fleshy rhizomes, conns and similar structures. The true lilies, or Miums as genus is known, consist of about 80 species of bulbous plants native to Asia, Europe and North America. They have a combination of distinguishing features as follows:

They possess scaly bulbs with rather loosely overlapping scales which are not enclosed by membraneous outer casing or sheath as

is the case with an onion, for example. The leaves are not heart shaped, with veination which is more or less parallel and flat, not rolled when young. The flowering stems are leafy with no basal leaves. The terminal flower or inflorescence of several flowers is borne on distinct stalks which are provided with a short leaf or bract where they join the main stem. The ripened seed pod or capsule opens at the top, splitting down the middle of each of the three seed components so that the many flatter and very light, papery seeds are scattered gradually by the wind. Though the lily grows from a true bulb, it never becomes completely dormant. In this respect it differs from daffodils, tulips, or any other bulbs having hardened dried scales as an outer covering to give protection against bruising, excess sunlight, or other injurious exposure. There is no period of inactivity with fleshy and soft scaled lily bulbs and they are easily damaged by rough handling or careless weeding. For this reason, too, new bulbs, or those that have been lifted, appreciate prompt planting or replanting. The following are true lilies, their common and botanical nomenclature being given: Golden Ray My, Lilium autatum: Madonna My, Mium Candidum; Regal Lily, Mium regale; Turks cap My, Mium martagon; Scarlet Turks cap Lily, Lilium chalee dorricum; Tiger My, Lilium tigrinum; Californian Panther My, Mium pardalinum; Candlestick Lily, Mium umbellatum. These are some of the plants commonly given the suffix “My” but are not true lilies: Torch My, Kniphofla; Blood My, Haemanthus coccineus: Butterfly My, Hedychium coronarium; Blue Lily of the Nile. Agapanthus umbellatus: Belladonna Lily, Amaryllis belladonna; Bengal Lily, Crinum zeylanicum: Aster My, St. James My and Jacobean My, Sprekelia formosissima; Arum My, ZaniedescMa aethiopica; African corn Lily, Ixia maculate; Catma My, Canna: Glory My, Gloriosa; Japanese spider Lilly, Nerine; Kaffir My, Schisostylis; Leopard My, Ladhenalia; My-of-the-VaMey, Convallaria: St. John’s My, Gladiolus communis; St. Michael’s My, Hemerocallis; Shepherd’s Lily, Ranunculus lyalii; Spider My, Hymenocallis calathina and Pancratium maritimum: Swamp My, Nymphaea alba; Tree My, Magnolia demidata; Water My, Nymphaea species; Zephyr My, Zephyranthes; Wand My, Eremurus; Voodoo Lily, Aram comutum. Some New Zealand natives which are referred to as “lilies” but are not include the following: Palm IHy and Cabbage Tree lily, CordyItae; New Zealand Flax lily, Phormium; grass lily, Herorliron; Rock or Renga lily, Arthopodium: Flax lily, Dianella; Mountain lily. Ranunculus.