Lilium lancifolium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lilium lancifolium |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lilium
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| Species: |
lancifolium
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Synonymy
Lilium leopoldii Baker
Lilium lishmannii T.Moore Lilium tigrinum Ker Gawl. |
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The Lilium lancifolium is a beautiful flower often called the tiger lily. It gets its name from its bright orange flowers with dark spots, which look a bit like a tiger's stripes! This lily is originally from China, Japan, Korea, and parts of Russia. People love to plant it in their gardens because its flowers are so eye-catching. Sometimes, it even escapes from gardens and grows wild in places like the eastern United States.
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What Does the Tiger Lily Look Like?
Like other true lilies, the tiger lily grows on tall, straight stems. These stems can be quite tall, reaching about 80 to 200 centimeters (about 2.5 to 6.5 feet) high. Its leaves are long and narrow, usually about 6 to 10 cm (2.5 to 4 inches) long.
One cool thing about the tiger lily is that it grows tiny little plantlets called bulbils right on its stem, where the leaves join. These bulbils look like small, dark beads. They can fall off the plant and grow into new tiger lily plants that are exactly like the parent plant! This is a special way for the lily to make copies of itself.
The flowers of the tiger lily are usually orange with black or dark purple spots. They are very pretty but don't have any smell. Each flower lasts for a few days. If a flower is pollinated, it will make a small seed pod filled with many thin seeds.
Its Many Names
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The most common name for Lilium lancifolium is the tiger lily. This name is perfect because of its spotted, tiger-like flowers! However, sometimes other types of lilies are also called "tiger lily," which can be a bit confusing.
For many years, scientists called this plant Lilium tigrinum. But later, they found out that an older name, Lilium lancifolium, was given to the same plant first. So, Lilium lancifolium became its official scientific name.
One special type of tiger lily is called 'Flore Pleno'. This variety has extra petals, making its flowers look "double" and even fuller! This double-flowered lily was first brought out of Japan in 1869.
Is it Safe for Pets?
It's very important to know that tiger lilies, like many other lilies, can be dangerous for cats. If a cat eats any part of a lily plant, it can become very sick. If you have cats, it's best to keep lilies out of your home and garden, or make sure your cats cannot reach them. If you think your cat has eaten a lily, you should get help from a vet right away.
Uses of the Tiger Lily
Besides being a popular garden plant, the tiger lily has other uses too! In some parts of Asia, people grow and even gather tiger lily bulbs from the wild to eat them. The bulbs are like small onions and can be cooked.
The 'Splendens' type of tiger lily is so beautiful that it has won an award from the Royal Horticultural Society for being an excellent garden plant. In Taiwan, both the flowers and the bulbs of the tiger lily are used in food, just like some other types of lilies.
See also
In Spanish: Flor del lazo atigrada para niños
