Hymenocallis coronaria
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| Hymenocallis coronaria | ||||||||||||||
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 Hymenocallis coronaria in bloom
at Hargrove Shoals in Alabama. |
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Hymenocallis coronaria |
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Pancratium fluitans |
Hymenocallis coronaria (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily) is a species of the genus Hymenocallis, native to the Southeastern United States. It is an aquatic, perennial flowering plant found only in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Within Alabama it is known as the Cahaba Lily, outside of that state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily due to the fact that it requires a swift, shallow, water current and direct sunlight to flourish.[1] The plant grows to about 3 feet (0.9 m) tall and develops from a bulb that lodges in between rocks in the shoals.[2] It blooms from early May to late June. Each fragrant flower blooms for one day.[1]
The plant was first scientifically described in 1783 by William Bartram, as the “odoriferous Pancratium fluitans which almost alone possesses the little rocky islets”.[3] Hymenocallis coronaria is under consideration for federal protection due to entire populations being wiped out by dam construction.[3] The largest remaining stand of this plant in the world is located at Hargrove Shoals, within the boundaries of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, near West Blocton, Alabama. Hargrove Shoals is located on the Cahaba River, about 2.4 miles (4 km) south of the entrance to the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "About the Cahaba Lily". "CahabaLily.com". Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b "The Cahaba Lily". "Cahabariver.net". Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b "Hymenocallis coronaria in Flora of North America". "eFloras.org". Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
