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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Kalatope id al080711a:
Is this from the lily family..??

Location Kalatope, Chamba
Altitude 2100 mts
Habit herb
habitat wild
Plant height 30 inches approx


How about Lilium polyphyllum?


Lilium polyphyllum is the best option


Yes … and …, I will try to get some bulbs of this one… It was a beautiful and fragrant flower.. and has a lot of medicinal uses which I did not know ..



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VoF Week :: DV :: 02 AUG 12 – 1041 :: Fritillaria cirrhosa at Valley of Flowers:  2 images.
Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don … (family: Liliaceae)
syn. Fritillaria roylei Hook.

2 AUG 12
Valley of Flowers about 11600 ft

Thanks …, you found at least in fruiting condition. I could catch it in flowering in May only. Completely missed it in previous years in Kashmir in July-August. efi thread


I thought Fritillaria cirrhosa was a plant of Eastern Himalayas and Fritillaria roylei a plant of Western Himalayas. This synonymy at the plant list is confusing. GRIN still treats them as separate.


In that case, (we know them being separate species) would go with Fritillaria roylei.


Also the leaves don’t look like those of Fritillaria cirrhosa at all.


Actually …, I am having doubts about this being Fritillaria at all, not that I have much experience with it. F. roylei is supposed to be 1-2 ft tall – this plant appears taller. Also, the flowers are nodding, whereas the fruit here is upright. It might happen of course that in fruiting the stalks become erect, but I need somebody to tell me that it does happen.


These were standing about a metre tall or even 1.25 m, as much as I can recollect. Transformation of a nodding flower to an upright fruit is worth understanding.


Thanks … for raising the doubt.

Erect fruit is no problem, as I have seen plenty of them (one attached here) in related species F. imperialis (in which flowers are more strongly nodding). The leaves are, however, a problem clearly. Besides being slightly broader, they are clearly alternate here (opposite mostly in F. roylei, though few may be alternate). Besides the three bracteal leaves generally seen below the flower of Fritillaria roylei (and should be there in fruit also) are missing here.
After a lot of thinking, I propose Lilium polyphyllum as possible ID of above plant by …


Whole inflorescence of Geodorum turns upright while fruiting so that is not an issue. But I think … is right. This is Lilium polyphyllum. This seems too tall for Frittilaria.


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
So I also conclude Lilium polyphyllum


Really strange and interesting
Almost similar plant in same stage uploaded by … in Indian Flora on Facebook is labelled by him as Gymnadenia orchidis. Perhaps Orchid experts can comment on this.


If you can put the link here, then may be I will check at home.
No facebook usually at office 🙁


Here is the link to upload on Indian Flora on Facebook
facebook
It looks as if the two of them (… and …) have photographed the same specimen.


Oh yea, thats 100% wrong, I saw it on my phone.


I think it is not Fritilaria, it may be Lilium ???????


Many thanks … for further validating the posted plant to be Lilium (polyphyllum).



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VoF Week: Plant with fruit from Valley for ID please:
This plant with fruit was shot at the valley on 14th August, 2012.
ID of the plant please.


Lilium polyphyllum (family: Liliaceae) … efi thread



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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



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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.).


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.


I think this to be Fritillaria roylei in fruit.


I think, yes, Fritillaria roylei


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.


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


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.


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

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?


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


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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)


Good find …
Can you forward your telephone contact. Now that I have re-joined the State Cadre after completing my deputation with ICFRE, Dehradun, I might visit Dharamshala in near future and would like to interact with you. Might be we plan a trek together to Taranda/ Kareri Lake!!!!


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

Date: 1st August 2011
Location: Paddar valley Kishtwar J&K.
Altitude: 3010 meters asl
GPS: 33.40 N and 76.34 E
Plant habit/habitat: Wild herb
Plant height: 2-3 feets

I hope Lilium thomsonianum


It looks different from images at Notholirion thomsonianum


It is not Notholirion thomsonianum. It can be some other species of Lilium.


To me it seems to be Lilium polyphyllum, a plant no more common in its natural habitat. It is Red-listed.


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Lilium polyphyllum: 4 images.
Location: Kupwara forests, J&K.
Photo credits : Adil Abdullah.

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Lilium polyphyllum from Pothibasa Nursery Uttarakhand-GS06012022-1: 4 very high res. images.
Lilium polyphyllum, photographed from Medicinal Plants Nursery at Pothibasa, Uttarakhand, 31-5-2013.


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


Closer to Lilium polyphyllum.

Please compare with Lilium species available in eFI at :
https://efloraofindia.com/category/species/a-l-d0/l/liliaceae/lilium/
It seems that L. polyphyllum have two forms in Western Himalaya. One with brown spotted tepals and other with spotless tepals as here.


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References: