Perennial herb to about 1 m; stems green, hairless; stem roots present; bulbils absent. Leaves cauline, alternate, narrowly ovate, hairless. Inflorescence 1-6 flowered. Flowers trumpet-shaped, spreading, tips recurved, fragrant; summer. Tepals to 20 x 3.5 cm, white, unspotted. Nectary green, without hairs or warts. Anthers yellow; pollen yellow.

Grown as an ornamental flowering bulb in sun or partial shade on well-drained rich soil.

L. auratum Lindl., Golden-banded Lily, from Japan is a perennial herb to about 2 m; stems purple-green, hairless; stem roots present; bulbils absent. Leaves cauline, alternate, broadly linear, hairless. Inflorescence up to 30 flowered. Flowers bowl-shaped, erect; summer to autumn.Tepals to 18 x 4 cm, white with a yellow or red central stripe, spotted. Nectary yellow, some warts present. Anthers reddishpurple; pollen brownish-red. 'Malta' and 'Mikado' are listed.

L canadense L., Meadow Lily, from eastern N America is a perennial stoloniferous herb to about 1.5 m; stems green, hairless; stem roots present; bulbils absent. Leaves cauline, mostly in whorls, broadly linear, minutely scabrid along veins. Inflorescence up to 20 flowered. Flowers bell-shaped, nodding, apices recurved; summer.Tepals to 7.5 x 2.5 cm, yellow, maroon spotted. Nectary yellow, hairless. Anthers yellow-orange; pollen yellow.

L. candidum L., Madonna Lily from Greece, Turkey and the Middle East is a perennial herb to about 2 m; stems dark red-purple, hairless; stem roots absent; bulbils absent. Leaves basal (overwintering) and cauline, alternate, broadly linear, hairless. Inflorescence 5-20 flowered. Flowers trumpet-shaped, spreading, tips recurved, fragrant; summer. Tepals to 8 x 4 cm, white, basally yellow inside; unspotted. Nectary yellow, hairless. Anthers yellow; pollen yellow.

L. parryi S.Wats., Lemon Lily from SW USA is a perennial stoloniferous herb to about 2 m; stems green, hairless; stem roots absent; bulbils absent. Leaves cauline, mostly alternate, linear to narrowly ovate, hairless, margins rough. Inflorescence usually about 12 flowered. Flowers narrow trumpet-shaped, drooping, tips recurved, fragrant; summer. Tepals to 10 x 1.2 cm, yellow, sometimes with red-brown spots at base. Nectary yellow, without hairs and warts. Anthers orange-brown; pollen red-brown.

Taiwan and S Japan.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Liliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.