Lilium philadelphicum L.
Wood lily, prairie lily
Wood lily is a North American native plant, once widespread, now declining due to habitat loss and increasing white-tailed deer, who savor it.
Plants: Plants are 1½–4′ tall ⨉ 9–12″ wide (50–120 ⨉ 22–30 cm). They have waxy green stems. Bulbs are ⅝–1 ⨉ ¾–1¾″ (1.6–2.9 ⨉ 2.2–4.7 cm).
Leaves: Elliptical, 1–4 ⨉ ½–1″ (2.9–10 ⨉ 1.3–2.5 cm) wide, with pointed tips. They are alternate, smooth-edged and hairless, arranged in a whorl of 3-11 leaves near the top.
Flowers: Stunningly beautiful flowers are bright orange, sometimes pink to red or yellow. Flower petals are 1¾–3″ (4.5–7.7 cm) long. One to three, or rarely up to five flowers top each stem. Flowers are spotted with dark maroon-colored spots, and do not have an odor. They are trumpet-shaped, and upward-facing. Each flower has three petals and three nearly identical sepals, so it appears to have six petals. Flowers appear from late April to early June.
Fruits: Erect capsules are ¾–3″ (2–8 cm) long and ⅜–⅝″ (1–1.8 cm) wide.
Habitats: Moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soils, and full sun or partial shade.
Edibility: Not edible. Toxic to cats.
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 138
8/1/2008 · Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 17 cm) 
7/3/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine 
6/30/2010 · Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
6/30/2010 · Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
7/3/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Liliales | Includes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others |
| Family | Liliaceae | Lilly family |
| Genus | Lilium | From Greek lirion, “lily,” |
| Species | philadelphicum | “From Philadelphia” |
Lilium philadelphicum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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