How to Identify Lily Flowers
Many types of flowers have the word "lily" in their name, but true lilies belong to the genus Lillium. Flowers such as calla lilies and water lilies do not belong to this genus and are not actually members of the lily family. Humans have cultivated true lilies for their prominent and attractive flowers for thousands of years. Identifying true lilies is not difficult as they have some interesting attributes that separate them from other plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Look at the flower of the plant. A true lily will have a flower with three sepals and three petals. Realize that the sepals and petals of lilies are often the same shape and color. This gives them a unified appearance. Look at the shape of the flower. Lily flowers are usually shaped like a bell, bowl or trumpet.
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Look at the stem of the plant. Lilies have a long erect stem. Check the leaves. Lilies will have narrow leaves that cover the stem from top to bottom.
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Determine if the plant has a bulb. Most lilies grow from bulbs composed of sections called scales. See if you can easily peel the scales. This is a characteristic of lily bulbs. Ensure that each scale has no protective covering.
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Smell the lilies. Lilies typically produce a fragrant scent.
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Tips & Warnings
Realize that the petals and sepals of lilies may turn downward or face upward.
Avoid trying to identify lilies based in the color of the flower. Lily flowers come in almost every color.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
