Lilium pardalinum
Lilium lancifolium
California tiger lily, leopard lily, panther lily
lance-leaf tiger lily, lis tigré, tiger lily
rhizomatous, usually branching, continuously scaly, 1.4–5.1 × 3.9–19 cm, 0.2–0.6 times taller than long;
scales sometimes unsegmented but always some 2–4-segmented on each bulb, longest 1–3.3 cm;
stem roots absent.
widely ovoid, 3.5(–8) × 4–8 cm, ca. 0.7–0.8 times taller than wide;
scales broad, unsegmented, longest ca. 3–4 cm;
stem roots usually present.
to 2.8 m, strongly clonal and thus forming dense colonies, to weakly clonal and forming small colonies or clumps.
white-lanate, purplish, to 2 m. Buds usually flat-sided, somewhat triangular in cross section.
rounded in cross section.
usually ± evenly distributed along stem, rarely concentrated proximally, scattered or in 1–6 whorls or partial whorls, 3–19 leaves per whorl, horizontal and drooping at tips to ascending, 4.9–26.5 × 0.3–5.6 cm, 3–34 times longer than wide;
blade usually ± elliptic, wide or narrow, margins usually not undulate, apex acute, often narrowly so;
veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.
scattered, horizontal and drooping at tips, 10–15(–18) × ca. 1.5 cm, ca. 3–6(–10) times longer than wide, distal bearing 1(–3) dark purple axillary bulbils;
blade lanceolate, often narrowly so, margins not undulate, papillose, apex white-lanate, narrowly acute (rounded in distal leaves).
racemose, 1–28(–35)-flowered.
racemose, 3–6(–25)-flowered.
pendent, usually not fragrant;
perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;
sepals and petals reflexed 1/4–1/3 along length from base, yellow, yellow-orange, or orange proximally, darker orange to red-orange to red on distal 1/5–3/5 (entirely orange or yellow-orange in subsp. wigginsii), with maroon spots concentrated proximally and always surrounded by yellow or orange if extending into distal reddish zone, conspicuously green abaxially on proximal ± 1/5, not distinctly clawed;
sepals not ridged abaxially, 3.5–10.4 × 0.9–2.2 cm;
petals 3.4–10.2 × 0.9–2.5 cm;
stamens moderately to strongly exserted;
filaments moderately to widely spreading, diverging 7°–22° from axis;
anthers ± magenta or sometimes orange, orange-pink, or pale yellow, 0.5–2.2 cm;
pollen red-brown, red-orange, brown-orange, rust, orange, or yellow;
pistil 3.1–7.5 cm;
ovary 1–2.2 cm;
style green, often pale, rarely sordid;
pedicel 6–32 cm.
pendent, not fragrant;
perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;
sepals and petals reflexed ca. 1/5–1/4 along length from base, orange with many purple-brown spots, not distinctly clawed, 7–10 × 1–2 cm, adaxial base bearing pubescent strip;
sepals not ridged abaxially;
stamens strongly exserted;
filaments very widely spreading, diverging ca. 25° from axis;
anthers purplish, ca. 2 cm;
pollen rust;
pistil 6–9 cm;
pedicel sometimes dichotomous, stout and relatively short, to 10 cm.
2.2–5.7 × 1.2–2.1 cm, 1.5–3.7 times longer than wide.
3–4 cm.
123–264.
not counted.
= 24, 36.
Lilium pardalinum
Lilium lancifolium
Subspecies 5 (5 in the flora).
The subspecies of Lilium pardalinum display a classic pattern of discrete geographical ranges with intervening zones of introgression, and no two occur sympatrically without intermixing. Plants in the hybrid zones are confusing in appearance and cannot be assigned to subspecies. However, each subspecies is fairly well marked within its core distribution. With the exception of subsp. pitkinense, the subspecies of L. pardalinum can be common plants in the proper habitats within their rather narrow distributions.
Leaf size and shape are quite variable in Lilium pardalinum subspecies and often clearly dependent on environment. In populations that typically have narrow, ascending leaves, shaded plants often have wide, horizontal leaves. This hampers taxonomic separation as well as identification, especially of herbarium specimens. Further field study is desirable.
Lilium pardalinum is primarily pollinated by western tiger swallowtails (Papilio rutulus Lucas, family Papilionidae) and pale swallowtails (P. eurymedon Lucas); several species of hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are also important visitors, especially when butterflies are rare.
The Atsugewi, Karok, and Yana ate Lilium pardalinum bulbs steamed or baked in an earth oven (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Throughout most of modern botanical history this Chinese lily has been known as Lilium tigrinum, but recent nomenclatural reassessment affirms that Thunberg’s description, published sixteen years earlier than Ker Gawler’s, applies to this species. Though many North America species are known vernacularly as tiger lilies, the name is properly applied only to this one. Along with L. candidum, it is considered to be among the earliest domesticated lilies (H. D. Woodcock and W. T. Stearn 1950), no doubt because it is handsome, easy to grow, and the bulbs are edible and substantial. It is widely planted in North America, usually as a sterile triploid that is best propagated from the bulbils.
Perhaps the hardiest garden lily, Lilium lancifolium is a widespread but sporadic garden escape, and roadside lilies near habitation in eastern and northeastern North America are often this species. Despite its general use in gardens, it seems to be naturalized only in the better-watered eastern portion of the continent.
In North America, the tiger lily is rather easily diagnosed by its truly lanceolate and widely sessile alternating leaves that bear dark bulbils on the upper stem. The mature buds are usually high-shouldered and taper rather evenly to a flattish apex with three greenish, terminal, rounded processes. No native lily consistently displays any of these features.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Sepals and petals uniformly yellow or yellow-orange; sepals 3.5–7.1 cm; anthers pale yellow, 0.5–1.3 cm; pollen yellow or orange; pistil 3.1–4.3 cm; capsules 2.3–4.2 cm; n California, s Oregon. | subsp. wigginsii |
1. Sepals and petals ± 2-toned, with yellow or orange proximally, distal 1/5–3/5 darker orange to red; sepals 3.7–10.4 cm; anthers magenta, occasionally purple or orange, 0.5–2.2 cm; pollen yellow to rust; pistil 3.3–7.5 cm; capsules 2.2–5.7 cm; California, s Oregon. | → 2 |
2. Sepals (5.9–)6.6–10.4 cm; anthers 1.1–2.2 cm; capsules 2.9–5.7 cm; leaves 3–12 times longer than wide, blade ± elliptic; stems strongly clonal, forming large colonies; California. | subsp. pardalinum |
2. Sepals 3.7–8.3 cm; anthers 0.5–1.8 cm; capsules 2.2–4.8 cm; leaves 3–34 times longer than wide, blade elliptic to linear; stems weakly to moderately clonal, sometimes forming small colonies; n California, s Oregon. | → 3 |
3. Leaves 7.3–34 times longer than wide, often concentrated proximally, often ascending, sometimes horizontal, blade ± linear; sepals (4.9–)5.3–8.3 cm; anthers 0.6–1.8 cm; pollen usually dark orange; extreme nw California, adjacent s Oregon. | subsp. vollmeri |
3. Leaves 3–17 times longer than wide, ± evenly distributed along stem, ± ascending or horizontal, blade ± elliptic; sepals 3.7–7.6 cm; anthers 0.5–1.4 cm; pollen yellow, orange, or red- or brown-orange; n California, s Oregon. | → 4 |
4. Pollen red- or brown-orange; anthers magenta; bulb scales usually 2-segmented; n Coast Ranges near Sebastopol, California. | subsp. pitkinense |
4. Pollen usually yellow or bright orange; anthers orange to magenta; bulb scales (1–)2–4-segmented; ne California, adjacent s Oregon. | subsp. shastense |
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