Lilium polyphyllum

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR)
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Lilium polyphyllum D.Don, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. 388 1840. (Syn: Lilium polyphyllum var. uniflorum Boiss.; Lilium punctatum Jacquem. ex Duch.);
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A description for Lilium polyphyllum from 100 himalayan Flowers by Mehta and Bole
“It is bulbous herb, with leafy stem, upto 3 m tall the leaves are linear to oblanceolate, 10-12 cm, slender and many nerved; the lower leaves are ogten whorled, the flowers are fragrant, 5 Cm in dia, and are held on terminal racemes. Blooming from June to August, they are dull yellowish or greenish outside and white within with long purple streaks; the segments are oblanceolate, strongly reflexed or curved, giving the flower a cup shaped pretty appearance. The fruit is an erect, 3 valved many seeded capsule; The seeds are vertically compressed”
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This plant has been assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ with very few and scattered wild populations left in north-west Himalayas.
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Location Kalatope, Chamba
Altitude 2100 mts
Habit herb
habitat wild
Plant height 30 inches approx

How about Lilium polyphyllum?

… Lilium polyphyllum (family: Liliaceae) … efi thread

VoF Week: Lilium polyphyllum from Valley:
Lilium polyphyllum from Valley

Yes … Good to see this upload again. I would try to catch Fritillaria roylei in fruit next year to see how the two differ.

Fruits of the Liliaceae member. Anybody with flowers?

Nice photos. First time seeing the fruits.

Flowers in these bulbous plants are usually over by May-June

Flora of Uttarakhand- Herb66 for Id- JM:
Wild Herb captured on 13/8/10 during the trek from Ghangaria (around 11,000 ft.) to Hemkunt Sahib (around 14000 ft.).

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Liliaceae for sure. Most probably Lilium or Notholirion but cant say without flowers. May be my boss and few of his students will, who have great experience of Himalayan plants.

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I think this to be Fritillaria roylei in fruit.

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I think, yes, Fritillaria roylei

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Should I take it as Lilium polyphyllum in view of discussion in the thread posted by …: efi thread

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01072013GS1 Lilium for ID from Uttarakhand : Attachments (2). 5 posts by 4 authors.
This lily with barely 4-5 cm across white flowers with recurved purple dotted perianth was grown in medicinal plants nursery in Pothibasa near Ukhimath in Uttarakhand. Please help in ID.

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Could possibly be Lilium polyphyllum.
Suggested by … on Facebook. 

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Excellent photographs … It is Lilium polyphyllum D. Don, a medicinal plant of Astavarga group. Known as ‘Ksheer Kakoli’ in Ayurvedic literature, this plant has been assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ with very few and scattered wild populations left in north-west Himalayas. Nice to note that some plants of this species are being maintained in nursery.

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O yes Sir. In fact when a student (… if I remember correctly) of High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre, H.N.B.Garhwal University Srinagar Garhwal (who maintain this collection at Pothi Basa) started work on it I suggested the population at Gangotri area. This plant is from the Gangotri population or from Chamba Tehri where … located another population. I have not seen it in Tungnath area as wild.

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Lilium polyphyllum ABJUN01/13 : 3 posts by 2 authors. 2 images,

I found these growing wild on slopes in Kullu. Is this Lilium polyphyllum?

Lilium polyphyllum, White Himalayan Lily

Above Gushaini, Kullu, 1700m
24 June 2015

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It sure is Lilium polyphyllum, a plant no more common in its habitat. Great capture … Did you make an estimate of the number of plants at the location?

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Thank you … Unfortunately not realising that it’s dwindling, I did not make a note of numbers but remember not seeing many.

I found this again after two years and this time in Dharamshala. A lone plant was growing among Sarcococca saligna cluster and I would have missed the bud if a friend didn’t point me to it. I immediately thought of the L. polyphyllum but was not certain. My friend and I visited the plant thrice on alternate days and finally found the flower open on a rain soaked dark day yesterday. The open flower confirms the ID. Dr Goraya had pointed out its rarity and I carefully searched the area nearby for more plants but couldn’t find any. I am happy for one though and hope to find more in future.
Attachments (7)

Plant for ID from Paddar valley J&K: 071111 SRANA 02: Request for Identification:

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Identification required of this lilium sp.: 5 images.
Location: Kupwara kashmir

Closer to Lilium polyphyllum.

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