Lilium and allies (Cardiocrinum. Notholirion and Nomocharis) 2008

[Susan Band]

Here's my L rosthornii showing its very distinctive habit, also I find the leaves rather a pale colour.
Susan

[David Shaw]

Maggie
Thanks for posting the link to this wev site. A great site and now added to my 'favourites'.

[johnw]

Here's my L rosthornii showing its very distinctive habit, also I find the leaves rather a pale colour.
Susan

Thanks Susan. Mine is definitely an archer.

Where the sun has appeared, after a wet 3 weeks stretch.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

That's lovely Susan.

[Tony Willis]

Lilium auratum has opened today. i bought this from Wisley a few years ago and it has slowly increased.

[Brian Ellis]

Am I right in thinking this is Lilium philippinense (some idiot has lost the label!).  Sorry about the background I realise it would have been better against something darker

[Lesley Cox]

It looks like what I have as that Brian and it should have a wonderful heady perfume. And I can assure you that white on white is very chic.

[Brian Ellis]

Yes wonderful perfume Lesley, I do try to keep up with style

Easy to propagate?

[Jim McKenney]

Does anyone know a sure way to distinguish Lilium philippinense and L. formosanum? Because Lilium formosanum was originally distributed as Lilium philippinense var. formosanum, the two are to this day often confused.
I’ve had seed from several sources over the years as L. philippinense, but I have never seen a difference between those plants and plants known to be L. formosanum.
Can anyone offer some diagnostic tips?

[Paul T]

As Jim says, sure it isn't formosanum?  Comes down to tube length and that sort of detail.... apparently a lot of what we have here in Aus are hybrids between the two, muddying the water even further!

[rob krejzl]

Does anyone know a sure way to distinguish Lilium philippinense and L. formosanum?

Well, if you look at the description,  the most obvious difference is that formosanum is supposed to have yellow pollen and philippinense brown. But.....

[Lesley Cox]

Mine, of which I have no picture, has rich tan/brown pollen. I grew it from seed as L. mackliniae(!) 15 years ago. It set seed for 3 years then never has done, since. It's a big clump now, which I must dig and divide.

[Paul T]

Rob,

And hybrids would have pollen somewhere in between.  Do you have a colour chart? 

[rob krejzl]

Aye, there's the rub.

[Brian Ellis]

the most obvious difference is that formosanum is supposed to have yellow pollen and philippinense brown.

Thanks for that Rob and all the discussion it has helped enormously, I am now not as confused as I was last night