Lilium leichtlinii subsp. leichtlinii

Lilium leichtlinii = Lilium leichtlinii [unranked] Lilium leichtlinii majus G. F.Wilson, J. Hort. Cottage Gard. n.s. 25: 371 (1873)

Lilium leichtlinii majus ≡ Lilium leichtlinii var. majus (G. F.Wilson) Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 1874: 248 (1874)

Lilium leichtlinii majus ≡ Lilium leichtlinii f. majus (G. F.Wilson) G.Nicholson, Ill. Dict. Gard. 2: 270 (1885).

Note.

Although Nicholson refers to the various varieties of lilies in his introduction to his entry on Lilium, he distinctly states in his description of L. leichtlinii majus "this is a luxuriant form" (Nicholson 1885: 270).

Description.

Bulb subglobose to globose 2-4 × 2-4 cm forming short subterranean stolons with bulbils, scales white, ovate, thick; stem 40-180 cm, green, slightly scabrid or floccose- tomentose, especially on upper inflorescence axis; leaves scattered, sessile, linear, 8-16 × 0.5-1.2 cm, glabrous or slightly white floccose, especially beneath, margins tomentose when young; inflorescence 1-5 flowered, pedicels 10-18 cm long, glabrous to slightly floccose; flowers pendulous, citron-yellow, lightly to heavily dotted with purplish-brown speckles from the middle portion of the tepal to the base, rarely covered in purplish-brown streaks, not fragrant, tepals pubescent at apex and below, strongly recurved 5-8 × 1-2 cm lanceolate, apex subacute, nectaries yellow, margins raised, papillose; stamens glabrous, filaments yellow, spreading outwards, anthers brown, pollen yellow; Style pale yellow, upwards curving, stigma reddish-brown, lobes short; capsule ellipsoid 3-5 cm long.

Distribution.

Japan, Honshu (Akika Pref., Shizuoka Pref.); Ryukyu Islands (Amami-o-shima).

Ecology.

Growing in open rich marshy meadows, along stream margins and in sandy terrain amongst low scrub, sea level to 1300 m of elevation. Flowering in July and August. Germination epigeal.

Illustration.

https://rhslilygroup.org/2019/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/L-leichtlinii-lechtlinii.jpeg