LILIES - RHS Lily Group

material is relatively uniform and matches
L. albanicum, which is also found in
Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo. Closely
related taxa, often treated as subspecies
of L. carniolicum, occur elsewhere in
the Balkan Peninsula. L. carniolicum
subsp. jankae has recently been reported
from Mt Voras (Kajmakč alan), but a photo
accompanying the report (in the Greek
journal Fisis 109: 20, 2005) clearly shows
a rich-flowered form of L. albanicum. The
latter had in fact been collected on Mt
Voras (probably just north of the present
border) already in 1893 by the Austrian
botanist Ignatz Dörfler. Lilium jankae
(L. carniolicum subsp. jankae) is a more
robust plant with larger and somewhat paler
flowers, occurring, e.g., on Mount Vitosha
near Sofia. Plants from the Greek side of
Mt Belles (the two dots in the north-eastern
Lilium albanicum on Mt Gramos,
alpine grassland over schist near the
war memorial above Aetomilitsa,
28 June, 2004.
part of the map see pp. 25) are somewhat intermediate between L. albanicum and
L. jankae, but closer to the former.
Characteristic features of L. albanicum are the relatively small size (25-40 cm
tall), 2-4 or occasionally up to 9 deep yellow flowers only 3-4 cm wide, with
distinctly recoiled, deep yellow, unspotted tepals. It grows in damp meadows
on non-calcareous substrates (serpentine, schist or granite) at high altitudes,
generally 1600-2100 m, and flowers relatively early, from mid-June to mid-July.
In cultivation in southern Scandinavia it flowers in the end of May and beginning
of June. It is relatively easy to establish but seems difficult to keep for any length
of time, being susceptible to diseases.
2. Lilium candidum
The well known white lily or Madonna Lily has been cultivated in the eastern
Mediterranean area since antiquity. In Christianity it became a symbol of purity
associated with the Virgin Mary, it was widely grown in monasteries and is a
common motif in religious art. In addition to its ornamental and symbolic value
it had reputed cosmetic and medicinal properties. From Britain it is mentioned
as early as the seventh century A.D., and it features in the plays of Shakespeare,
apparently being a well known plant at that time. It is hardy as far north as
southern Scandinavia.
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