| Lilium maritimum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Genus: | Lilium |
| Species: | L. maritimum |
| Binomial name | |
| Lilium maritimum Kellogg |
|
Lilium maritimum is a species of lily known by the common name coast lily. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the coastline north of San Francisco. It occurred south of San Francisco in the past; these occurrences have all been extirpated. It is now restricted to the North Coast, particularly in Mendocino County, where it grows in the California coastal prairie habitat, coniferous forests, and bogs amongst Drosera species.
Contents |
Lilium maritimum is a perennial herb usually exceeding a meter in height and known to exceed two meters at times. Specimens from coastal bluffs and similar harsh habitat are much smaller. The plant grows from a scaly, elongated bulb several centimeters long. The oval leaves are mostly basal, with some located in several whorls about the stem. They may reach 18 centimeters long.
The inflorescence bears up to 13 large, nodding lily flowers. The flower is bell-shaped with 6 tepals with tips recurved or curled tightly back. The tepals are up to 5 centimeters long and red to orange, usually with spots. There are 6 stamens with large red anthers sometimes over a centimeter long, and a pistil which may be over 3 centimeters in length.
The Lilium maritimum flowers are pollinated by Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds when first open, and later by bumblebees (Bombus spp.).[1]