Wild edible plants and mushrooms are typically our topic of discussion. However In a few recent videos and photos a beautiful Lily has graced us with its presence. Since it is not an edible plant I have not mentioned it much beyond its name. Today after enjoying another bloom of this magnificent plant I wanted to take a moment to feature it.
This beautiful Lily is known as Catesby’s Lily, pine lily, leopard lily, tiger lily and southern-red lily. It loves to show off its large flowers that have six bright reddish-orange and reflexed tepals which are yellow with purple spots at their inner base and is the largest flower of any North American lily. Their Stamen is also conspicuous, with tall yellow filaments extending above the tepals and topped by orange or yellow anthers. It bears a small fruit that is an inconspicuous capsule that splits when ripe, releasing many small, papery seeds, to be carried away by the wind to start the next generation.
This Florida native lily likes mesic to wet flatwoods, wet prairies and savannas. It is very sensitive to growing conditions, and thrives in conditions generally inhospitable to other lilies. You will most often find this Lily blooming in summer to late fall, attracting a variety of pollinators, but primarily pollinated by swallowtail butterflies.
Sadly, In Florida, it is listed by the state as a threatened species
