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Alligator-lily facts for kids

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Alligator-lily
Alligator Lily (Hymenocallis palmeri) (8248700633).jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Hymenocallis
Species:
H. palmeri
Binomial name
Hymenocallis palmeri
S.Wats.
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Synonyms
  • Hymenocallis humilis S. Wats.

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The Alligator-lily (scientific name: Hymenocallis palmeri) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, which also includes daffodils and amaryllis. This beautiful flower is found only in Florida, USA. It loves wet places like cypress swamps, damp meadows, and even the sides of wet roads.

Alligator-lily: A Unique Florida Plant

The Alligator-lily, or Hymenocallis palmeri, is a fascinating plant. It's known for its pretty white flowers. This plant is endemic to Florida. This means it naturally grows only in Florida and nowhere else in the world!

What Does It Look Like?

The Alligator-lily grows from a bulb. This bulb is shaped like an egg and can be about 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) wide. Its leaves are a cool bluish-green color. They can grow quite long, up to 65 centimeters (about 25 inches). The leaves are also narrow, about 10 millimeters (less than half an inch) across.

Its Unique Flowers

The flowers of the Alligator-lily are very interesting. They grow in a cluster called an umbel. Each cluster usually has only one or two flowers. If there are two, they open one at a time. The flowers stand upright and are shaped like a funnel. They are bright white. In the center, they have a greenish "eye." Around this eye, there are small "teeth" on the edges of a part called the staminal corona.

Seeds of the Alligator-lily

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces seeds. These seeds are green and also egg-shaped. They can be up to 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hymenocallis palmeri para niños

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