| Lilium longiflorum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Subfamily: | Lilioideae |
| Genus: | Lilium |
| Species: | L. longiflorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Lilium longiflorum | |
Lilium longiflorum, often called theEaster lily, is a species of plant endemic to both Taiwan andRyukyu Islands (Japan).Lilium formosanum, a closely related species from Taiwan, has been treated as a variety of Easter lily in the past. It is a stem rooting lily, growing up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. It bears a number of trumpet-shaped, white, fragrant, and outward-facing flowers. This species, along with most other true lilies, are highly toxic to cats.[1]
Plants typically grow from about 50 cm (20 in) to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall. They have long oval leaves and the vein enters the horizontal direction. From April to June, the plant's flowering season, it produces pure white flowers on top of the stem. The stem has a cylindrical shape, with a diameter of about 5 cm (2.0 in).
Avariety of it,L. longiflorum var.eximium, native to theRyukyu Islands, is taller and more vigorous. It is extensively cultivated forcut flowers. It has irregular blooming periods in nature, and this is exploited in cultivation, allowing it to be forced for flowering at particular periods, such asEaster. However, it can be induced to flower over a much wider period. This variety is sometimes called theBermuda lily because it has been much cultivated inBermuda.
Lilium longiflorum is known as the Easter lily because inChristianity, it is asymbol of theresurrection of Christ, which is celebrated duringEastertide.[2][3] The "lily has always been highly regarded in the Church", asJesus referenced the flower.[4] Furthermore, "afterJesus' death and resurrection, some of these beautiful flowers were found growing in theGarden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray the night before Hiscrucifixion. Legend has it that these flowers sprung up where drops of Jesus' sweat fell as he prayed".[5][6] In many Christianchurches, thechancel is adorned with Easter lilies throughout thePaschal season.[7][8]
In 1903, the USDA's Agricultural Research Services (ARS) started to distribute disease-free plant materials and seeds.
In Bermuda, from the 1890s to the early 1900s, there was from over some 200 fields a thriving export trade of lily bulbs by sea toNew York. A disease then started affecting the lilies: a virus was identified byLawrence Ogilvie, the Bermuda Government's firstplant pathologist, serving from 1923 to 1928. In 1924Lawrence Ogilvie saved the industry by identifying the problem to be not aphid damage as previously thought, and instituting controls in the fields and packing houses. There was a marked improvement in exporting 23 cases of lily bulbs in 1918 to 6043 cases in 1927 from the then 204 lily fields.[9] With the disease eliminated by him, he saved theeconomy of Bermuda (lilies and early vegetables sent by ship to New York were then economically much more important for Bermuda than hotels and financial services are now).
In 1929, USDA's Agricultural Research Services started a breeding program, and released one of the first dwarf cultivars for potted-plant production.[10] Prior to USDA's effort, lily bulbs were mostlyimported from Japan until the 1940s. The supply of bulbs was suddenly cut off after theattack on Pearl Harbor and Easter lilies became extremely valuable in the United States.
Currently, nearly all Easter lily bulbs used in North America are grown on coastal bottom lands in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, particularly in the town ofSmith River, California.
The Easter lily is a rich source ofsteroidalglycosides.[11] It also contains bitter principles such as3,6′-diferuloylsucrose.[12]
L. longiflorum is toxic tocats.[13][14][15] The true mechanism of toxicity is undetermined, but it involves damage to therenal tubular epithelium (composing the substance of the kidney and secreting, collecting, and conducting urine), which can causeacute kidney injury. Veterinary help should be sought, as a matter of urgency, for any cat that is suspected of eating any part of the lily – including licking pollen that may have brushed onto its coat.[16]
The Easter Lily is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Churches of all denominations, large and small, are filled with floral arrangements of these white flowers with their trumpet-like shape on Easter morning.
We associate the lily with Easter, as pre-eminently the symbol of the Resurrection.
The lily has always been highly regarding in the Church. Jesus said "Consider the lilies." The white lily is the symbol of purity. There is a peculiar fitness in the choice of this flower as an Easter emblem. Its bulb is hidden in the earth, and waits the coming of the Easter season to spring forth and blossom. Beautiful in itself it is still more beautiful in its sacred significance.
Easter lilies are, perhaps, the most famous holiday flowers of all time. Sometime after Jesus' death and resurrection, some of these beautiful flowers were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray the night before His crucifixion. Legend has it that these flowers sprung up where drops of Jesus' sweat fell as he prayed and became very sad about what was happening to Him.
Christian tradition also says that lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony.
There were Easter lilies everywhere, on the platform in Sunday School, and the church was full of them, around the organ, along the chancel rail, inside the chancel, the whole front of the church seemed full of them.
The Easter lily, the emblem of the Christian church for centuries, is probably more largely used for decoration of altar and shrine throughout the civilized world, in the festival of the Resurrection, than all other flowers combined.
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Media related toLilium longiflorum at Wikimedia Commons