LILIUM CANDIDUM

Family and Genus:- See- LILIACEAE

Common Names:- Madonna lily

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Lilium (L) Lily.

Candidum (L) Shining-white.

General description:- Tall, hairless bulbous perennial.

Stems:-

1) 90-120(-180) cm., erect, greenish.

Leaves:-

1) 3- to 5-veined, alternate, glossy,

2) Basal, appearing in the autumn, larger than the cauline leaves, oblanceolate and

± obtuse.

3) Cauline, smaller than the basal, ovate-lanceolate, acute

Flower:-

1) Large white trumpet-shaped, 8-12 cm long, borne in 3-6 flowered racemes,

occasionally more, sometimes bracteolate; very fragrant.

2) Pedicels, erect or patent.

3) Perianth segments, generally 55-70 mm, broadly lanceolate, recurved towards

the apex.

4) Style, equalling the perianth segments.

5) Stamens;

a) filaments, white;

b) anthers, 9-11 mm, golden yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, obovoidal, more or less 6-angled.

2) Seeds, numerous, flat.

Key features:-

1) Flowers large white, trumpet-shaped.

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Habitat:- Rock ledges and rocky limestone hills with open woodland. 100-1200 m.

Distribution:- Native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts

of Europe. Very rare on Crete restricted to two localities.

Flowering time:- May-June.

Photos by:- Yannis Zacharakis

Status:- Protected by Greek Presidential Decree 67/81.

Near threatend according the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014