Mention the word “lily” to someone, and it likely will conjure up an of Lilium longiflorum, a fragrant, white, trumpet-shaped flower sold as a potted plant around Easter. The fact is, however, there are over 100 species classified into nine different divisions of the plant genus Lilium which makes it a much more diverse than most people realize. Perhaps because of its diversity, lily has been selected by the National Garden Bureau as its bulb plant for the year 2023.
For thousands of years. lily has symbolized purity and renewal in many different cultures. The first mention of lily dates back about 4000 years to a pure white version of the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum). The latter species still is popular among gardeners today, although most modern garden lilies are hybrids of various species. A wide array of artifacts (e.g. jewelry and vases) depicting Madonna lily have been unearthed in ancient cities of Crete, Greece, and Mesopotamia.
Ancient Egyptians revered the lily and entombed it with their dead. The Greeks and Romans also treasured it. According to their folklore, Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, was so jealous of the lily that she caused an elongated pistil to grow from its center, thus making it less attractive.
In China, lily was used as a valuable source of food. The latter use probably is what caused it to spread throughout Europe. The Victorian Era saw the discovery of many new types of lilies as European explorers introduced them from the orient.
One reason lilies have managed to thrive and adapt for such a lengthy period is closely tied to their reproductive strategy. These flowers have a unique floral structure that facilitates cross-pollination by attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. The intricate shapes, vibrant colors, and alluring scents of lily flowers have evolved to ensure successful reproduction through pollination, contributing to their incredible resilience and diversity.
Many plants have lily in their name that are not members of the genus Lilium and, thus, are not true lilies. These include day lily, water lily, peace lily, calla lily, canna lily, lily of the valley, and many, many more.
As mentioned above, all species in the genus Lilium can be classified into one of nine divisions. Physical characteristics delineate these nine different horticultural divisions by parentage and then by the broad categories of flower aspect (upward-facing, outward-facing, or downward-facing) and flower shapes (trumpet-shaped, bowl-shaped, flat-shaped with just tepal tips recurved, or tepals strongly recurved).
Lilies are one of the most beloved flowers prized for their elegant trumpet-shaped blooms and sweet fragrance. But take a close look at a lily blossom and you may notice something strange – the number of “petals” doesn’t seem to add up! So how many petals does a lily really have? Let’s unravel the mysteries of lily petal anatomy.
The Perplexing Petal Structure of Lilies
At first glance, lily flowers appear to have six petals. The symmetrical blossoms have six equal-sized flower parts arranged in a circle around the stamens and pistil.
However, botanically speaking, not all six of these flower parts are true “petals.” Lily blooms actually contain three petals and three sepals that look nearly identical.
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Petals are the colorful parts that attract pollinators.
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Sepals are leaf-like structures that protect the bud before it opens
In many flowers, petals and sepals differ in color, shape or texture. But in lilies, the sepals and petals are fused into tepals that resemble each other, creating the illusion of six petals.
To summarize:
- Lily flowers have 3 true petals
- They have 3 sepals fused into petal-like tepals
- There are 6 petal-like tepals in total
This unique sepal and petal arrangement explains why lilies can seem to have more or fewer petals than expected!
The Signature Trumpet Form of Lily Tepals
The six tepals of lily blooms have a characteristic trumpet shape. The tepals are attached at the flower’s ovary base in a whorl. From there, they flare outwards into a funnel or bell contour before curving back in at the tips. This graceful, recurved form is a hallmark of true lilies in the Lilium genus.
The curving tepals surround the reproductive parts in the center – the stamens and pistil. The tepal margins unfold just enough to allow pollinating insects like bees to access the nectar inside.
The recurved tepal shape maximizes visual impact by creating a showy floral canopy. The tepals also display patterns like speckles, blotches, or contrasting edges to further attract pollinators.
Why Lilies Have 3 Petals and 3 Sepals
Most flowers have either three or four petals and sepals, due to how they develop and genetic limitations. Lily blooms contain three sepals and three petals for a symmetrical six-tepal arrangement for these reasons:
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Floral organs emerge in whorls from a central stem axis. Lily flowers have two whorls – an outer sepal whorl and an inner petal whorl.
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Each whorl contains three members, as guided by basic genetics. Lilies have three sepals in the outer whorl and three petals in the inner whorl.
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Symmetry creates visual appeal to attract pollinators from all sides. The six tepals are evenly spaced in a radiating circle for access.
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Lilies are monocots, so they have flower parts in multiples of three. Most monocots have petals and sepals in threes.
In short, the lily’s six-tepaled trumpet form satisfies biology, genetics, function, and beauty in one efficient yet stunning package!
Variations Among Lily Species and Cultivars
While most lilies follow the three sepal, three petal formula, some interesting exceptions exist:
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Some species have over 10 tepals, like the decatepal lily.
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A few species break symmetry and have four tepals, like Henry’s lily.
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Double-flowered cultivars have extra petals bred into the blooms.
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Albino lilies lack pigment so the tepals are white inside and out.
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Dark nectar guide lines often mark the tepals to point insects to nectar.
So while six petal-like tepals is the norm, lilies do display some fascinating variations. Breeders continue developing exciting new tepal forms as well!
The Role of Lily Tepals
The lily’s showy tepals serve several key roles:
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Attract pollinators with bright colors, patterns and fragrance.
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Protect the developing ovary before bloom.
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Support reproductive parts by holding stamens and stigma in position.
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Enhance visibility by reflecting light.
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Repel rain and moisture with thick, waxy surfaces to keep pollen dry.
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Reorient toward light to maximize sun exposure.
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Provide a flat, sturdy landing platform for insects to enter the flower.
The lily’s ingenious tepal structure facilitates successful reproduction, allowing the species to thrive. It’s no wonder lilies are so widespread and cherished in gardens!
Demystifying Lily Petal Counts
For lily admirers, the unusual petal numbers can be perplexing. In truth, lilies have three petals and three nearly identical sepals for a total of six petal-like tepals. This design satisfies biology, genetics, function and beauty. While lily petal counting may seem confusing initially, their novel floral anatomy exemplifies nature’s creativity. The next time you enjoy elegant lilies, take a moment to appreciate the hidden complexity within each perfect blossom!
Division 4: American Hybrids
This division consists of cross of Lilium species native to North America, where they grow wild. American hybrids are quite tall, with nodding, downward-facing blossoms on tall, curved pedicels. American hybrids bloom around the end of June into early July.
Division 1: Asiatic Hybrids Found almost anywhere, these hybrids are the easiest to grow. Their flower aspect can be upward-facing, outward-facing, or down-facing, also known also as pendant. Asiatic hybrids are very popular, but unscented. Attractive and long-lasting, they are usually the earliest to bloom in the garden.
Martagon Hybrids are known for their height and the abundance (up to 40-50 per stem) of small, strongly recurved petals on down-facing or nodding flowers. They are early blooming and thrive in a shady woodland location. Martagon hybrids do not tolerate intense heat, humidity, and direct sunlight as well as other members of the genus Lilium.
Lo Sir Basic Biology Concepts Channel – How many petals does a lily flower have 百合花有多少片花瓣
FAQ
Can lilies have more than 6 petals?
Flowers: The flowers of lilies are trumpet-shaped and have six petals arranged in two layers. They can range in size from small, delicate blooms to large, showy flowers up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter.
How many pedals does a Lilly have?
“True Lilies” belong to the genus Lilium. When the flowers bloom, they are large, colorful, and often fragrant. True Lilies all have 6 petals and 6 stamens with anthers (oblong pods that contain pollen).
How many pistils are on a lily?
There may be a single pistil, as in the lily, or several to many pistils, as in the buttercup. The lobes of the stigma are often characteristic of families or genera; for example, many bellflowers (Campanula) have a distinctive stigma with three curling lobes.
How many petals does a water lily have?
The fragrant flowers of these species have 50 or more petals and are 18 to 46 cm (about 7 to 18 inches) wide. They open white toward evening and shade to pink or reddish two days later before they wither, to be replaced by a large berrylike fruit.
How many petals and sepals does a lily have?
True lily flowers have three petals and three sepals that look nearly identical. Petals are the showy colorful parts of the flower that attract pollinators. Sepals are leaf-like structures that protect the flower bud before it opens. In many flowers like roses, petals and sepals are distinctly different in color, shape or texture.
How many petals do lilies have?
Technically, lilies have only three true petals. Sepals are the part of the flower that covers the petals when the flower is in the budding stage. The purpose of the sepal is to protect the petals from weather and predators, like insects. Generally, sepals are green and look like leaves.
Which lilies have 6 petals?
These flowers fall in the genus Lilium in the family Liliaceae. Lilies have six petals and come in nearly every color of the rainbow. There are many other plants with “lily” in their names, such as daylily (genus Hemerocallis), water lily (Nymphaea), lily of the valley (Convallaria), and peace lily (Spathiphyllum).
Do lilies have sepals?
Sepals are leaf-like structures that protect the flower bud before it opens. In many flowers like roses, petals and sepals are distinctly different in color, shape or texture. But in lilies the sepals and petals are fused together into tepals that resemble each other, creating the illusion of six petals. So to recap – lily flowers have:
How many tepals do lilies have?
In truth, lilies have three petals and three nearly identical sepals for a total of six petal-like tepals. This arrangement satisfies biology, genetics, function, and aesthetics in one efficient yet beautiful package. So while lily petal counting may seem perplexing at first, their novel floral structure speaks to the creativity of nature.
Why do lilies have petals?
The purpose of petals is to attract pollinators to the flower. Traditionally, flowers grown in flower beds are grown for their colorful petals, which often form a cluster that we refer to as a bloom or blossom. In the case of the lily, what we call the bloom is actually three petals and three sepals.