Lilium 2015

[Tony Willis]

Rick

I also had the same one as you ( which died) and yes it is quite different but I understand it is a pure species.

I have some nice bulbs of the Chinese one coming on from seed (Yija wang) but they are a couple of years still off flowering before I can compare.

[winwen]

Rick,
I think that both forms deserve specific rank.
They are definitely different.
The taiwanese form doesn't cross with any speciosum.
It also germinates epigeal at 15 °C after 6 weeks while the mainland form seems to germinate hypogeal and extra-delayed. Seeds from Yijia Wang didn't germinate at all within their first 13 weeks warm-period. They only started forming their first bulb after their first cold-period. The mainland-form also seems to be hardy - at least here in Vienna.
Interestingly the young plants dont seem to require any special treatment while the adult ones are very difficult to keep.I always ask myself how people are able to cultivate this diva. Maybe it's a matter of the substrate in conjunction with moisture.

Good job, Rick! Really well done!

[Tony Willis]

Win that is an interesting comment about the germination of the Yija seeds. Mine germinated straight away.

They are growing slowly and seem to die down very quickly but an examination of the bulbs show they are healthy. This may have been caused by the strange weather pattern we have experienced here this summer. Hot in April and then cold until now.

[Rick R.]

I suspect you all have seen this pdf .  In gist, it seems to support everything being said by you all, but it's new to me.

[Rick R.]

My one attempt using L. gloriosoides pollen on L. speciosum var. rubrum was unsuccessful, too.  It was with pollen sent to me from Europe.  By the way, Tony, thanks again for the L. papilliferum pollen.  It looks like pollination was successful, although progression is slower than I'd like.

[Tony Willis]

Lilium gloriosoides 'Taiwan form' fully open

[Tristan_He]

Lilium speciosum (or is it? from the discussion above I don't know any more) 

Always flowers as the leaves are dying back which doesnt really look the best. Probably I should plant it with a foliage plant that will set off the flower better. It seems to like the pot its in though.

[Karaba]

Win that is an interesting comment about the germination of the Yija seeds. Mine germinated straight away.

I had both type of germination : some germinated straight away (hypogeal) and some needed a period of cold before hypogeal germination but I wonder (i'm not sure) if they didn't have a first leave the same year (and so, didn't need another cold period). All bulbs are still very small and I will need to wait a *few* years before any flower....

[winwen]

I had both type of germination : some germinated straight away (hypogeal) and some needed a period of cold before hypogeal germination but I wonder (i'm not sure) if they didn't have a first leave the same year (and so, didn't need another cold period). All bulbs are still very small and I will need to wait a *few* years before any flower....

I think this behaviour could depend on the degree of maturity of the seeds. Maybe some germination-inhibiting substances were not fully developed because seeds were partially harvested when not fully mature. With orchids this is the reason why some species are sown when seedpods are still green.

[Karaba]

It may also be a "not putting all the eggs in the same basket" strategy.

[Rick R.]

I only have one clone of Lilium papiliferum, and it was through the generosity of a forum member here that I obtained pollen in hopes of producing seed. 

Success!  They are small seed, but look very good, and I have enough to share if some of you have papilliferum on your wish list.  They germinate IE according to Ed McRae and Darm Crook. Darm has them germinating in 8-15 days, and recommends that once germinated, quite dry conditions are required or the seedlings will be lost.  I'd be grateful for any additional advice anyone might have.

Send me a PM if you wish seed.

[Maggi Young]

Well done Rick!   I've taken the liberty of adding your photo to the Seeds toScale  project. 

[Rick R.]

That's good, Maggi.  Although, they seem rather small.  Maybe it's because the seeds are all embryo and endosperm, and have no papery outer part like most other lily seed. So this is another question I put to the lily people here:

Is that the normal size for Lilium papilliferum seed?

[Maggi Young]

Good question, Rick.
 I can tell you that only L. rhodopaeum seed, of the few pix we have of lilium seed in the seed project, is bigger.

[Susan Band]

The seed looks okay to me. Last year I had a lot of seed which germinated along with all the rest of the Himalayan lilies such as macklinae and Nomocharis. Sown in Jan kept frost free germination when temperatures warmed up by March. Pricked out in May kept in a shady tunnel. Susan