''Lilium superbum'' is a species of true lily native to the eastern and central regions of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

.United States Department of Agriculture plants profile
/ref>
/ref> Common names include Turk's cap lily, turban lily, swamp lily, lily royal, or American tiger lily. The native range of the species extends from southern New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, west to Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, and south to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

Description

''Lilium superbum'' grows from high with typically three to seven blooms, but exceptional specimens have been observed with up to 40 flowers on each stem. It is capable of growing in wet conditions. It is fairly variable in size, form, and color. The color is known to range from a deep yellow to orange to a reddish-orange "flame" coloring with reddish petal tips. The flowers have a green star at their center that can be used to distinguish ''L. superbum'' from the Asiatic "tigerlilies" that frequently escape from cultivation. It grows in swamps, woods, and wet meadows.

Uses

The roots were a food source for Native Americans, and the flowers provide

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

for

hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...

s and larger insects.

Status

It is listed as endangered in Florida, New Hampshire, Alberta and Saskatchewan and threatened in Kentucky, and exploitably vulnerable in

Etymology

The Turk's cap common name is derived from the reflexed shape of the flower petals, which presumably resemble a type of hat worn by early Turkish people.

Toxicity

Cats

Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

are extremely sensitive to lily toxicity and ingestion is often fatal; households and gardens that 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 that they then consume while cleaning. Suspected cases require urgent veterinary attention. Rapid treatment with

activated charcoal "Activated" is a song by English singer Cher Lloyd. It was released on 22 July 2016 through Vixen Records. The song was made available to stream exclusively on ''Rolling Stone'' a day before to release (on 21 July 2016). Background In an interv ...

and/or induced vomiting can reduce the amount of toxin absorbed (this is time-sensitive so in some cases vets may advise doing it at home), and large amounts of fluid by IV can reduce damage to kidneys to increase the chances of survival.Lily Poisoning in Cats
Pet MD.

Traditional uses

The bulbs were made into soups by some Native Americans.

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile for ''Lilium superbum'' (turk's-cap lily) Missouri Botanical Garden, Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Turkscap lily (''Lilium superbum'') Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network−NPIN: ''Lilium superbum'' (Turk's-cap lily)
— ''with horticultural info''. {{Taxonbar, from=Q136882 superbum Flora of the Eastern United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Endangered flora of the United States Flora without expected TNC conservation status