Rare Lilies of North Carolina

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Liliaceae (Lily) are characterized as being perennial herbs grown from a bulbous root, having leaves that are basal or cauline, often whorled or spiral and sheathing, with a single raceme, or rarely an umbel of solitary flowers as an inflorescence. The author points out that the flowers are perfect, or bisexual, and have flower parts arranged in groups of three sepals, three petals, six stamens, and three fused carpels with a superior ovary. The paper quotes a key description for each species within the genus Lilium found in North Carolina. The paper also quotes graphs for each species which indicates the reason for the rarity and threats, management requirements and economic uses such as being edible, having medicinal and horticultural application. This paper includes many tables, graphs, maps and color pictures.

Table of Contents:
Classification
Liliaceae A.L. de Jussieu
Lilium Linnaeus
Lilium Linnaeus
Lilium Philadelphicum Linnaeus var. Philadelphicum
Lilium Philadelphicum Linnaeus, Wood Lily
Lilium Pyrophilum M.W. Skinner and Sorrie, or Sandhills Bog Lily
Lilium Grayi S. Watson, aka Gray's Lily or Roan Lily,
Lilium canadense Linnaeus ssp. Canadense, aka Yellow Canada Lily,
Lilium canadense Linnaeus ssp. Editorum, aka Red Canada Lily

From the Paper:

"Gray's lily is a southern Appalachian endemic that blooms on or around the 4th of July in the balds and forest openings of the Roan Mountain massif of North Carolina and Tennessee. If there is no interbreeding with other Lilium, Lilium grayi may also occupy the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains, such as the famous Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, and Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain in Virginia. A few populations can be found at elevations lower than 900 meters in streamside meadows along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Alleghany county North Carolina."

Sample of Sources Used:

• An Online Encyclopedia of Life. NatureServe Explorer. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/. Retrieved November 19 and 20, 2007.
• List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina. Natural Heritage Program. Franklin, Misty A., and Finnegan, John T. (2006). http://www.ncnhp.org/Images/2006RarePlantList.pdf Retrieved October 12, 2007.
• Plants Database. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Science. http://www.plants.usda.gov/. Retrieved November 19 and 20, 2007.
• Radford, Albert E., Ahles, Harry E., Bell, C. Ritchie. (1968). Pages 309, 310, and 311. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
• Simpson, Michael G. (2006). Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants. Page 180 in Sonnack, editor. Plant Systematics. Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA, USA.

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