About Lilium rubescens S.Watson
Lilium rubescens S.Watson is an uncommon lily species, commonly called redwood lily and chaparral lily. It is native to northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, found in the Coast Ranges from Lane County to Santa Cruz County. As its common names suggest, it grows as part of the native flora in two habitat types: redwood forest understory and chaparral. This is a perennial herb that produces a waxy, erect stem that can reach up to two meters tall. It grows from a scaly, oval-shaped bulb that can reach up to around 9 centimeters in length. Its oval leaves are arranged in several whorls around the stem; each leaf can be up to 13 centimeters long, and has wavy edges. The inflorescence can hold up to 40 erect flowers. Each flower is fragrant and trumpet-shaped, with six tepals that reach up to 7 centimeters long and are somewhat recurved or curled back. The inner surface of the tepals ranges from white to pale purple or pinkish, the outer surface is darker in color, and the tepals are marked with freckled reddish spotting. Each flower has six stamens with yellowish anthers, and one pistil that can be up to 4 centimeters long. This species is likely pollinated by bees and the pale swallowtail butterfly, Papilio eurymedon. It is threatened by multiple factors, including land development, logging, invasion by non-native species, road maintenance, and horticultural collection of its bulbs and flowers.
