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 and iconic 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 actually have? Read on to uncover the surprising truth about lily petal anatomy.
The Perplexing Petal Arrangement of Lilies
At first glance, lily flowers appear to have six petals. The blossoms are radially symmetrical, with six flower parts of roughly equal size arrayed in a circle surrounding the stamens and pistil.
However, in botanical terms, these six flower parts are not all classified as “petals.” True lily flowers have just three petals and three sepals that look nearly identical.
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Petals are the showy, colored parts of the flower that attract pollinators.
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Sepals are leaf-like structures that protect the flower bud before it opens.
In many flowers like roses, petals and sepals are distinctly different. 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 3 true petals
- They have 3 sepals fused into petal-like tepals
- There are 6 petal-like tepals in total
This unusual sepal and petal arrangement explains why lilies may seem to have more or fewer petals than expected!
The Signature Trumpet Shape of Lily Tepals
The six tepals of lily flowers have a distinctive trumpet shape. The tepals are attached at the base of the flower’s ovaries 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 characteristic of true lilies in the genus Lilium.
The curving tepals surround the flower’s reproductive structures in the center – the stamens (male) and pistil (female). The tepal margins unfurl just enough to allow pollinating insects like bees to access the nectar at the base of the bloom.
The recurved tepal shape maximizes the flower’s visual impact by creating a showy floral canopy. The tepals also display color patterns like speckles, blotches, or contrasting edges to further attract pollinators.
Why Lilies Have 3 Petals and 3 Sepals
Most flowers stick to either three or four petals and sepals, due to the way they develop and genetic limitations Lily flowers contain three sepals and three petals for a symmetrical six-tepal arrangement for the following reasons
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Floral organs emerge in whorls from a central stem axis. Lily flowers have two floral whorls – an outer sepal whorl and an inner petal whorl.
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Each whorl contains three members, 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 spaced evenly in a radiating circle to allow access for pollinators.
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Lilies are monocots, meaning they have flower parts in multiples of three. Most monocots have petals and sepals in threes.
In short, the lily’s six-tepaled trumpet shape satisfies biology, genetics, function, and aesthetics in one efficient yet beautiful package!
Variations Among Lily Species and Cultivars
While most lilies follow the three sepal, three petal formula, there are some interesting exceptions:
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Some species have upward of 10 tepals, like the decatepal lily Lilium formosanum.
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A few species violate symmetry and have four tepals, like Lilium henryi.
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Double-flowered lily cultivars have extra petals bred into the flowers.
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Albino lilies lack pigment in the tepals so they appear white inside and out.
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Thin dark lines called nectar guides often mark the tepals to point insects to nectar.
So while having six petal-like tepals is the norm, lilies do display some neat variations. Hybridizers continue creating exciting new tepal forms as well!
The Multifunctional Role of Lily Tepals
The lily’s showy tepals serve a few key roles:
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Attract pollinators – Bright colors, patterns, and fragrance lure pollinating insects like bees.
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Protect ovary – The tepals enclose and shield the developing ovary before bloom.
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Support reproductive parts – Tepals provide a sturdy frame to hold stamens and stigma in position.
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Enhance visibility – Curving tepals reflect light to make flowers more conspicuous.
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Repel water – Thick, waxy tepals repel rain and moisture to keep pollen dry.
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Respond to light – Tepals can reorient toward light sources to maximize sun exposure.
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Provide landing platform – Flat, sturdy tepals give insects a place to land and enter flower.
The lily’s ingenious tepal structure allows the species to thrive through successful reproduction. No wonder lilies are so widespread in the wild and beloved in gardens!
Demystifying Lily Petal Count
Many lily admirers have wondered about their unusual petal numbers. In truth, lilies have just 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. Next time you enjoy a bouquet of elegant lilies, take a moment to appreciate the hidden complexity within each blossom!
Division 5: Longiflorum Hybrids
The species is native to both Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands (Japan). With showy flowers, this division is cultivated for sale as a potted plant at Easter. It features large, fragrant, outward-facing, trumpet-shaped, pure white flowers. Nellie White is the most widely planted cultivar of this division.
Division 3: Candidum Hybrids
This division consists mostly of European varieties and (unfortunately) are not commonly found for sale. They are one of the oldest and perhaps the first species of lilies introduced into culture. The Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) (pictured) is thought to be over 3,000 years old and is the “standard bearer” of this division.
Lo Sir Basic Biology Concepts Channel – How many petals does a lily flower have 百合花有多少片花瓣
FAQ
How many petals do a lily have?
The lily looks like it has six petals, but botanists classify them as “tepals.” Tepals are petals (in the center) and sepals (which look like petals around the outer edge of the flower) that are all fused to the base (calyx) of a blossom, and sometimes to each other as well, to form a funnel-shaped flower.
Do lilies always have six petals?
Lilies always have six petals and six anthers. Each bloom lasts a week or more. True lilies are popular cut flowers. The lowest buds on the stem will open first and the remaining buds will open sequentially through to the topmost buds.
Do lilies have 8 petals?
All true lilies have six petals and six anthers (part of the stamen that contains the pollen).Aug 17, 2020
How many pistils does a lily have?
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 lily have?
However, in botanical terms, these six flower parts are not all classified as “petals.” 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.
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).
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.
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.
What do lily petals look like?
The petals of a lily are one of its most striking features. These are the colorful, leaf-like structures that surround the reproductive parts of the flower. Petals can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, ranging from solid shades of white, pink, or yellow to intricate combinations of multiple hues.