Lilium superbum Linnaeus. Turk's-cap Lily, Lily-royal, Superb Lily. Phen: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct. Hab: Cove forests and moist forests, moist ravines, blackwater stream swamps, Coastal Plain bogs. Dist: MA and s. NY south to ne. NC, Panhandle FL, and c. MS, southward primarily in the Appalachians, but extending across the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain of VA and ne. NC, and with a similarly odd extension south of the southern terminus of the Appalachians into the Coastal Plain of GA, w. FL, AL, and MS.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Isolated populations in the southeastern Coastal Plain are not straightforward matches with typical L. superbum of the Appalachians and need additional investigation. For instance, the plants of blackwater swamps of se. VA and ne. NC are very narrow-leaved and yellow-tepaled; this form, atypical in habitat, range, and morphology has been referred to speculatively as "Lilium species 1". Further study is needed to determine whether it is a distinct taxon (species, or variety of L. superbum) or only a form. Other taxa from Panhandle FL and s. GA were named by Roane & Henry (1980) and warrant consideration as having taxonomic merit.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA26, GW1, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mo1, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Adams & Dress (1982), Skinner & Sorrie (2002), Wherry (1946); > Lilium fortunofulgidum Roane & J.N.Henry – Roane & Henry (1980), invalid name (no type designation); > Lilium gazarubrum Roane & J.N.Henry – Roane & Henry (1980); > Lilium maryhenryae, valid name per ICN; > Lilium mary-henryae Roane & J.N.Henry – Roane & Henry (1980), orthographic variant; < Lilium superbum L. – G; > Lilium superbum L. – Roane & Henry (1980)
Wetland Indicator Status:
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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