Lily is the common English name for plants of
the genus Lilium or Liliaceae.
The genus Lilium are herbaceous flowering plants normally growing from
bulbs, comprising a genus of about 110 species in the lily family, Liliaceae.
They are important as large showy flowering garden plants, and in literature.
Some of the bulbs have been consumed by people. The species in this genus
are the true lilies, while other plants with lily in the common name are
related to other groups of plants.
Many species are widely grown in the garden in temperate and sub-tropical
regions. Sometimes they may also be grown as potted plants. A large number
of ornamental hybrids have been developed. They can be used in herbaceous
borders, woodland and shrub plantings, and as a patio plant.
Some lilies, especially Lilium longiflorum, as well as a few other hybrids,
form important cut flower crops. These tend to be forced for particular
markets; for instance, L. longiflorum for the Easter trade, when it may
be called the Easter lily.
Lilium bulbs are starchy and edible as root vegetables, although bulbs
of some species may be very bitter. The non-bitter bulbs of L. lancifolium,
L. pumilum, and especially L. brownii (Chinese: ???; pinyin: baihé
gan) are grown at large scale in China as a luxury or health food, most
often sold in dry form. They are eaten especially in the summer, for their
ability to reduce internal heat. They may be reconstituted and stir-fried,
grated and used to thicken soup, or processed to extract starch. Their
texture and taste draw comparison with the potato, although the individual
bulb scales are much smaller.
Although they are believed to be safe for humans to eat, there are reports
of nephrotoxicosis (kidney failure) in cats which have eaten some species
of Lilium and Hemerocallis [1].
Lilies are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species
including The Dun-bar.
WHITE LILY : Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly
to be with You
YELLOW LILY : I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
CALLA LILY : Beauty
DAY LILY : Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
EUCHARIS LILY : Maiden Charms
TIGER LILY : Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY : Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary,
Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete, beauty, gaiety |
