Ajay Kumar at 23:21, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T23:21:04Z

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{{Short description|Species of lily}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = ShoshanTzachor-2-wiki-Zachi-Evenor.jpg
| taxon = Lilium candidum
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms_ref=<ref name=marie>{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?name_id=280671|title=Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families}}</ref>
| synonyms=
* ''Lilium peregrinum'' <small>Mill.</small>
* ''Lilium album'' <small>Houtt.</small>
*plus numerous names at the levels of varieties and subspecies
}}
'''''Lilium candidum''''', the '''Madonna lily'''<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{PLANTS|id=LICA22|taxon=Lilium candidum|accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref> or '''white lily''',<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | access-date = 1 June 2022}}</ref> is a plant in the [[Lilium|true lily]] family. It is native to the [[Balkans]] and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the [[Canary Islands]], Mexico, and other regions.<ref name=marie/><ref>[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=lilium+candidum Altervista Flora Italiana, Giglio bianco di S. Antonio, Madonna lily, ''Lilium candidum'' L.]</ref> It has been cultivated since antiquity, for at least 3,000 years,<ref> Peter Haggett (Editor) {{google books|6BqVsXdHWAIC|Encyclopedia of World Geography, Volume 15:The Middle East |page=2089}}</ref> and has great symbolic value since then for many cultures. It is susceptible to several [[virus]] diseases common to lilies, and especially to ''[[Botrytis (fungus)|Botrytis]]'' fungus. One technique to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants from seed instead of bulblets.

==Description==
It forms bulbs at ground level, and, unlike other lilies, grows a basal [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]] of leaves during winter, which die the following summer. A leafy floral stem, which generally grows {{convert|1.2|m}} tall, but exceptionally {{convert|2|m}} tall, emerges in late spring and bears several sweetly and very fragrant flowers in summer. The flowers are pure white and tinted yellow in their throats.<ref>Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1980). Flora Europaea 5: 1-452. Cambridge University Press.</ref><ref>Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1984). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, 8: 1-632. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.</ref><ref>Danin, A. (2004). Distribution Atlas of Plants in the Flora Palaestina Area, 1-517. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem.</ref><ref>Ikinci, N., Oberprieler, C. & Güner, A. (2006). On the Origin of European Lilies: Phylogenetic Analysis of ''Lilium'' Section Liriotypus (Liliaceae) Using Sequences of the Nuclear Ribosomal Transcribed Spacers. Willdenowia 36: 647-565.</ref><ref>Dimpoulos, P., Raus, T., Bergmeier, E., Constantinidis, T., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A., & Tzanoudakis, D. (2013). Vascular Plants of Greece: An Annotated Checklist, 1-372. Botanic Gardens and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin and Hellenic Botanical Society, Athens.</ref>

==In culture==
[[File:Northern_Italian_School_-_The_Madonna_and_Child_with_Saint_Nicholas_of_Tolentino_and_Saint_Anthony_of_Padua_-_NG3094_-_National_Gallery.jpg|thumb|left|Madonna and child with Saints [[Anthony of Padua]] and [[Nicholas of Tolentino]]. Both saints are holding white lilies to symbolise their chaste life.]]

Madonna lilies are depicted in the fresco titled ''[[Prince of the Lilies]]'' in the ruins of the ancient [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] palace of [[Knossos]].

Some translations of the [[Bible]] identify the [[Hebrew]] word ''Shoshannah'' as "lily" in the ''[[Song of Songs]]'': "As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." (''Song of Songs'', 2:2 ([[KJV]])) Customarily it is translated as "rose". For example, [[Abraham ibn Ezra]] described it as a white flower, which has a good fragrance, and has a six petaled flower and six [[stamen]]s. But its identity is uncertain, because it typically grows in montane places and not in valleys as the phrase "the lily of the valleys" would have it. {{Clarify|date=September 2009}}

The Bible describes [[King Solomon's Temple]] as adorned with designs of Madonna lilies on the [[column]]s,<ref>''[[1 Kings]]'', 7:19.</ref> and on the brazen Sea (Laver).<ref>''[[1 Kings]]'', 7:26.</ref>

The white lily symbolizes [[chastity]] in the iconography of the [[Catholic Church]] and some of the Orthodox churches. For example, Medieval depictions of the [[Annunciation]] show [[Gabriel]] the Archangel handing a white lily to the [[Virgin Mary]]. Additionally, the white lily is the [[Saint symbolism|attribute]] of other virginal and chaste saints, such as [[Saint Joseph]],<ref name= "Kostka">{{cite web | last = Kostka | first = Arun Oswin |url = http://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/p/saint-symbols.html | title = Flowers in Christian Symbolism}}</ref> Saint [[Anthony of Padua]] and Saint [[Maria Goretti]].

The French adopted the symbol of the [[fleur de lis]], which can be described as a stylized Madonna lily,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fongemie|first1=Pauly|title=Mary's Symbols|url=http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/marys-symbols.htm|publisher=catholictradition.org|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>Hans Kurath {{google books|heLRKxy-uawC|Middle English Dictionary (1973)|page=1051}}</ref> however the shape of this symbol more accurately resembles that of a [[Iris pseudacorus|flag iris]] or ''[[Iris florentina]]''.<ref name=stefan>Stefan Buczacki {{Google books|uROWBAAAQBAJ|The Herb Bible: The definitive guide to choosing and growing herbs|page=223}}</ref><ref name=Jekka>{{cite book |last=McVicar |first=Jekka | date=2006 |edition=Revised |orig-year=1997 | title= Jekka's Complete Herb Book | publisher=Bookmark Ltd | isbn=978-1845093709}}</ref> The lily appears on ancient coins from [[Yehud Medinata]], as well as on medieval banners from Syria in the time of Saladin.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} The first time it appears in a Western context is in a stone carving decorating the refectory of the [[Hospitaller]] compound at [[Akko]], possibly indicating the link to its adoption by the [[House of Valois-Anjou]].

Before 1999, the Madonna lily was the provincial flower of [[Quebec]], probably as a reference to the [[fleur-de-lis|fleurs-de-lis]] on the [[flag of Quebec]]. However, this was criticized as the plant is not native to Quebec, and in 1999 it was replaced by the [[Iris versicolor|blue flag iris]], which is native to the province.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harlequin blue flag (Iris versicolor), our floral emblem |url=https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/harlequin-blue-flag-iris-versicolor-our-floral-emblem |website=Espace pour la Vie Montréal |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

==Culinary uses==
In Taiwan, both the flower and bulbs are used as food, as are the other related species: [[Lilium brownii var. viridulum|''L. brownii'' var. ''viridulum'']], [[Lilium lancifolium|''L. lancifolium'']] and ''[[Lilium pumilum|L. pumilum]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=可供食品使用原料彙整一覽表|url=https://consumer.fda.gov.tw/Food/Material.aspx?nodeID=160|access-date=2014-01-25|archive-date=2014-01-26|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140126120155/https://consumer.fda.gov.tw/Food/Material.aspx?nodeID=160|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Toxicity in pets==
[[File:Lilium candidum MHNT.BOT.2011.18.27.jpg|thumb|Seed pods and seeds - [[MHNT]]]]

[[Cats]] are extremely sensitive to the toxicity of the plant and ingestion is often fatal.<ref>[http://www.noliliesforcats.com/faq1.pml Frequently Asked Questions] No Lilies For Cats.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 21147474 | doi=10.1053/j.tcam.2010.09.006 | volume=25 | issue=4 | title=Lily toxicity in the cat | year=2010 | journal=Top Companion Anim Med | pages=213–7 | last1 = Fitzgerald | first1 = KT}}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/11730860/The-trouble-with-lilies-fabulous-but-fickle.html The trouble with lilies: fabulous but fickle], The Telegraph.</ref> Households and gardens which are visited by cats are ''strongly'' advised against keeping this plant or placing dried flowers where a cat may brush against them and become dusted with pollen which they then consume while cleaning. Suspected cases require urgent veterinary attention.<ref name="petmd"/> Rapid treatment with [[activated charcoal]], and/or induced [[vomiting]], can reduce the amount of toxin absorbed. Treatment is time-sensitive, so in some cases vets may advise doing it at home. A vet will give the cat large amounts of fluid by [[Intravenous injection|IV]], which can reduce the damage to the kidneys, and thus increase the chances of survival.<ref name="petmd">[http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/e_ct_lily_poisoning Lily Poisoning in Cats]. Pet MD.</ref>

==Gallery==
{{gallery
|File:Shoshan-Zachi-Evenor-6975.jpg|On [[Mount Carmel]], [[Israel]]

|File:Lilium candidum 1.jpg|In the [[VanDusen Botanical Garden]], [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q159811}}

[[Category:Lilium|candidum]]
[[Category:Flora of Southeastern Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Western Asia]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Asia]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Europe]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]

Lilium candidum - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 23:21, 29 August 2023