Lilly names

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by chrisaf, May 28, 2011.

  1. chrisaf

    chrisaf Member

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    Hi, can anyone identify the following lilies?

    The white one with snowdrop-like green and white bud casings only opens in the sunshine. It was growing in a neglected garden.

    The indigo blue lily is growing wild beside a beach.

    Both are on Protection Island, Nanaimo.

    Thanks
     

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    Last edited: May 28, 2011
  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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  3. chrisaf

    chrisaf Member

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    Thanks Daniel, I thought the blue looked very similar to those in a frescoe on Thera.

    C
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    I'd call the white one Ornithogalum umbellatum. The camas looks like C. leichtlinii, it would be easier to tell if there were shriveled petals present - C. leichtlinii holds them together, more or less parallel whereas C. quamash leaves them pointing every which way.
     
  5. chrisaf

    chrisaf Member

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    Thanks Ron B,

    On googling other images I think Daniel is right with the Camassia quamash because of the green and white undersides; i will go back and look for dead petals on the blue one but I think you are right with the Ornithogalum umbellatum.

    C
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    If that nearly closed flower behind the open one almost facing the camera is one that has gone past, as its seeming position on the flower stalk might indicate, then it has the parallel spent petal orientation of C. leichtlinii. Bailey 1949 separates the two species this way:

    C. quamash

    Flowers open at once usually many
    Shriveled petals lingering
    Fruits nearly pressed against main stalk

    C. leichtlinii

    Only 1-3 flowers open at the same time
    Shriveled petals soon falling
    Fruits not hugging main stalk

    Common camas is the much more prevalent species, so ordinarily you would expect to encounter that one. The plant shown also has the smaller stature and leafage often seen on common camas in some local habitats, I have never seen a great camas that did not have at least comparatively robust leaves - even when young and small (I grow three forms of the species myself).
     
  7. chrisaf

    chrisaf Member

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    Hi Ron,

    A new picture of camassia with spent petals.

    C
     

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  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    In addition to the flowers appearing to be those of great camas the leaves may actually and instead have the heaviness of that species as well.
     
  9. chrisaf

    chrisaf Member

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    Thanks Ron,

    Is it possible that other forms of C. leichtlinii may be growing in close proximity in the wild?

    C
     

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