''Lilium parvum'' is a species of

lily ''Lilium'' ( ) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are ...

known by the common names Sierra tiger lily and alpine lily. It is native to the mountains of the western

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, primarily the

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...

of California but also with additional populations in northwestern

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

and southwestern

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

.Calflora taxon report, ''Lilium parvum'' Kellogg Alpine lily, Sierra tiger lily
/ref> The plant grows in high altitude forests, sending up flowering stalks during the summer months.

Description

The flowers of ''Lilium parvum'' are smaller than those of other lilies, and more bell-shaped than most others. They are yellowish-orange to dark orange-red with lighter orange or yellow centers. The petals are spotted with purple or brown markings. There is a variety that bears lighter pink flowers in the foothills of

El Dorado County, California El Dorado County (; ''El Dorado'', Spanish for "The Golden ne), officially the County of El Dorado, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 191,185. The county seat is Placerville. Th ...

, which is known by the informal common name ditch lily. The plant also readily hybridizes with other ''Lilium'' species growing close by.Flora of North America, Vol. 26 Page 188 Alpine lily, Sierra tiger lily ''Lilium parvum'' Kellogg, Hesperian (San Francisco). 8: 163. 1862.
/ref>

References

External links

United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile; ''Lilium parvum''Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Lilium parvum''''Lilium parvum'' -Calfotos Photo gallery, University of California
parvum Endemic flora of the United States Flora of California Flora of Nevada Flora of Oregon Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of El Dorado County, California Taxa named by Albert Kellogg Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Liliales-stub