About Lilium bolanderi S.Watson
Lilium bolanderi S.Watson, commonly called Bolander's lily, is a rare North American plant species in the lily family. It is native to northwestern California (specifically Del Norte, Humboldt, and Siskiyou Counties) and southwestern Oregon (Curry and Josephine Counties). This species is a perennial herb that grows a waxy, erect stem that reaches almost one meter in height. It grows from a scaly, elongated bulb that can be up to approximately 7 centimeters long. Its wavy oval, waxy green leaves are arranged in several whorls around the stem, and each leaf can grow up to 7 centimeters in length. The inflorescence holds up to 9 large, nodding bell-shaped lily flowers. Each flower has six red tepals that reach up to 5 centimeters long, marked with yellow, purple, or darker red shades. It often hybridizes with other lily species, producing a wide range of forms, colors, and patterns. Each flower has six stamens with anthers that can sometimes be almost one centimeter long, plus a pistil that may reach 4 centimeters in length. The flowers are pollinated by two hummingbird species: Allen's hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) and rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). This lily was named in honor of Henry Nicholas Bolander, a California botanist.
