Hymenocallis coronaria (Le Conte) Kunth. Common name: Shoals Spiderlily, Cahaba Lily. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Rocky river shoals, usually with Justicia americana and Podostemum ceratophyllum. Distribution: Nc. SC south and west to wc. AL.
ID notes: This is the only Hymenocallis species that will be encountered in rocky river shoals of the interior provinces (inland from the Coastal Plain).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Many previous reports of this species from areas other than the inland (non-Coastal Plain) provinces, and from habitats other than rocky river shoals, reflect misapplication of the name
Other Comments: Notable stands of this spectacular plant occur at Landsford Canal State Park (on the Catawba River south of Rock Hill, SC), on the Saluda River (SC), on the Savannah River below I-20 (GA-SC border), Flat Shoals Creek and Flint River (GA), on the Cahaba River (Bibb County, AL), on the Coosa River (AL), on the Locust Fork of the Warrior River (AL), Tallapoosa River (AL), Blackburn fork of the Black Warrior River (Blount County, AL), and Choccolocco Creek (AL).
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA26, K4, NSProv, POWO, Smith & Garland (2003); >< Hymenocallis caroliniana Herb., misapplied; >< Hymenocallis occidentalis (Leconte) Kunth — RAB, S, misapplied; < Hymenocallis sp. ? — GW1. Basionym: Pancratium coronarium Leconte 1836
Links to other floras: = Hymenocallis coronaria - FNA26
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Colony-forming perennial from a bulb, found among rocky river shoals, usually with Justicia americana and Podostemum ceratophyllum.
Stems: Stem a smooth, slightly flattened scape with whitish coating arising from rosette of leaves.
Leaves: Leaves basal, erect, strap-like, 14-30 in. long, leathery.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 3-10 in a cluster at top of scape, opening sequentially, white with a yellowish-green eye, to 8 in. wide, consisting of a green tube that flares out to a white, membranous, funnel-shaped cup ("corona") with irregular margins and 6 white spider-leg-like extensions; 6 stamens are attached to the margins of the corona. The flowers are fragrant.
Fruits:
Comments: Found only in the Piedmont of SC, GA, and AL. Though locally abundant in places, in other sites where it was once abundant, populations have been extirpated by flooding caused by dams.
Height: 1-4 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Colony-forming perennial from a bulb, found among rocky river shoals, usually with Justicia americana and Podostemum ceratophyllum.
stems: Stem a smooth, slightly flattened scape with whitish coating arising from rosette of leaves.
leaves: Leaves basal, erect, strap-like, 14-30 in. long, leathery.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 3-10 in a cluster at top of scape, opening sequentially, white with a yellowish-green eye, to 8 in. wide, consisting of a green tube that flares out to a white, membranous, funnel-shaped cup ("corona") with irregular margins and 6 white spider-leg-like extensions; 6 stamens are attached to the margins of the corona. The flowers are fragrant.
fruits:
comments: Found only in the Piedmont of SC, GA, and AL. Though locally abundant in places, in other sites where it was once abundant, populations have been extirpated by flooding caused by dams.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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