Greys Lilly

Description:

Lilium grayi is a medium sized species of the lily family. It is native to Eastern USA and prefers moist, acid soil. The leaves are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate and carried around the stem in whorls. The flowers, produced in mid-summer, are carried on several umbels in a tiered style, they are tubular to funnel shaped, red externally, paler inside with yellowish centres and some purple spots. The flowers are up to 6cm long and nodding. The whole plant grows to 1–1.7m. The species is named for Asa Gray, an eminent American botanist of the mid-19th century.

Habitat:

Occurs only at high mountain elevations, moist meadows

Notes:

Found growing in an area know as the balds in Roan Mountain. This plant is considered endangered and cane only me found at high elevation meadows in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. While it is not ready to bloom at this time I hope to have more photos in the future showing its flower.