Michigan lily is a perennial lily with an unbranched, hairless stem, growing from a stout bulb.
The flowers are single or in whorls of 2–5, on stems arising from the upper leaf axils, nodding, with 6 tepals (3 sepals and 3 petals, all 6 alike), orange with many purple spots, recurving; the 6 stamens and the stigma protrude prominently. Blooms June-July.
The leaves are lance-shaped, mostly whorled, sometimes alternate at the lowest and highest nodes, to 5 inches long and ¾ inch wide, roughened with minute, toothlike processes along the margins and veins.
Similar species: Some other orange lilies look similar:
- Tiger lily (L. lancifolium), a common garden ornamental, has only alternate leaves and forms round, blackish bulblets at the leaf axils; a nonnative, it does not persist long out of cultivation.
- Wood lily (L. philadelphicum) has flowers erect, not nodding; a native that is possibly extirpated from Missouri, it may still occur in some northern native prairies.
- Swamp lily (L. supurbum) has smooth leaves, lacking teeth; it has been found only in Perry County.
Height: 3–8 feet.
Scattered statewide, but apparently absent from the Southeast Lowlands.
Habitat and Conservation
Found in low woods, swampy meadows, moist areas in prairies, along streams, but sometimes on bluff ledges or other dry ground; also railroads and roadsides.
Sometimes Michigan lily plants are found as colonies of small or spindly, nonflowering individuals. This is perhaps caused by excessive shading as trees form a closed canopy over formerly open areas. Such populations apparently can persist for many years without flowering.
Status
Native Missouri wildflower.
Human Connections
Many people cultivate this native lily as a low-maintenance ornamental in flower gardens. It attracts hummingbirds and has no serious insect or disease problems.
Ecosystem Connections
Sphinx and hummingbird moths and large butterflies visit the flowers, and a variety of mammals browse the foliage. Small rodents, such as voles, that burrow underground probably eat the bulbs.
