[The Lily Family East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]
Alp Lily, Alpine Lily, Common Alplily
Lloydia serotina ssp. serotina
Synonyms: Bulbocodium serotinum, Lloydia serotina var. serotina
Alpine lilies growing amongst singlespike sedge (Carex scirpoidea ssp. pseudoscirpoidea) in moist, rocky meadows along the South Loop Road, Steens Mountain, Harney County, OR..........August 31, 2011.
Characteristics:
Sometimes known as Lloydia, the alp lily is a diminutive plant
that is often over-looked. It has one to several stems arising10-20 cm high
from bulbs on short, thick rootstocks. The needle-like basal leaves are 4-10
cm long and about 1 mm wide. The old, withered leaf bases remain at ground
level, simulating a bulb. The 3-4 short stem leaves are wider, measuring up
to 2 mm wide.
The one (usual) to two flowers are found atop the scape and are usually held
erect. The flowers are whitish with green or purplish veins (See photo at right.).
The 6 tepals are oblong or oblanceolate in shape and are usually 9-12 mm long.
The six stamens are about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the tepals. The capsule is
ovoid and from 6-8 mm long.
Habitat:
The alp lily is found on rocky or gravelly mountain tops, ridges
and cliffs.
Range:
Alp lilies may be found in mountainous areas across much of
northern North America. It is found from Alaska east to Alberta and south to
the Olympic and Cascade Mts. of Washington and to Saddle Mt. (Clatsop County)
in northwestern Oregon. It is found eastward through Oregon to the Rocky Mts.
and south to New Mexico and Nevada. It is also found in Eurasia.
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Close-ups of the flower of alpine lily as seen growing in moist, rocky meadows along the South Loop Road, Steens Mountain, Harney County, OR................August 31, 2011.
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Alpine lily blooming in grasslands at the head of Kiger Gorge, Steens Mountain........July 11, 2014.
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Alpine lily as seen in vernally moist grassy areas between rock outcrops along the South Loop Road about one mile downhill to the west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain...........July 9, 2014.
The photo above shows alp lily as seen along the upper mile of the North Loop Road of the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon.........July 27, 2004.
The photo above shows the long, thin basal
leaf of Lloydia.
The photo above shows Lloydia as seen below
the summit of Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon...........June 25, 2000. Note
the long, thin, grass-like basal leaves and the wider but shorter leaves low
on the stem.
Paul Slichter
