Michaux’s Mix-Up, A Superb Example of Life on the Preserve
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f you haven’t figured it out, the title of this column is a play on words. Namely, that the very common Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum) – one of the showiest, and, because of its very colorful and statuesque nature, one of the easiest to find and identify wildflowers on the Preserve – has a smaller cousin in the Michaux’s lily (Lilium michauxii). This plant is very rare on the Preserve and is hard to find in general around western North Carolina unless you know where to look. Michaux’s lilies have fewer blooms per plant than the Turk’s cap and have rounder, more ovate leaves which differ from the Turk’s cap which have more lance-like leaves. But the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking into the base of the bloom by turning it slightly up. Be careful not to break the bloom while doing this. Look where the petals and the ‘stems’ of the stigma and stamens meet, at the base of the whole bloom, look for a green 5-pointed star shape. If present the plant is a Turk’s cap; if not present, it is a Michaux’s. Consider yourself lucky as finding these is often just a matter of luck and then, observation to determine if you indeed have the rarer of the two lilies. Either way, they are both stunning examples of the diversity of life you have on the Preserve. Happy flower hunting! Oh, and when you find a Michaux’s lily, send us a picture. by Michael Skinner, Trust Executive Director
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While the Turk’s-cap lily is very common on the Preserve in the summer, the equally showy Michaux’s lily is rare and is often mistaken for the Turk’s –cap. The easiest way to tell them apart is turn the flower up to see inside to the base of the petals. Here, if the flower has a green star-shape at the very base of the petals it is a Turk’s cap lily. Photo by M. Skinner