Hymenocallis palmeri

S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 301. 1879.

Common names: Alligator-lily
Endemic
Synonyms: Hymenocallis humilis S. Watson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 291. Mentioned on page 284, 290.

Bulb nonrhizomatous, ovoid, 2.5–4 × 1.5–3.5 (–5) cm; basal plate 1–3.5 cm; neck 3–7 cm; tunic grayish brown. Leaves deciduous, 2–6, erect, 1.5–4 (–5–6.5) dm × 4–10 mm, coriaceous; blade bluish green, linear, channeled, margins hyaline, apex acute, glaucous. Scape 1.8–4.5 (–6) dm, suborbiculate, glaucous; scape bracts 2, not enclosing flower bud, 4–6 cm × 4–7 mm; subtending floral bracts 1–2, 3.7–5 cm × 3–5 mm. Flowers 1, rarely 2, then opening sequentially, faintly fragrant; perianth-tube green, 7.5–12 cm; tepals ascending, yellow-green to pale green, linear, 7.5–12.5 cm × 3–7 mm (unfolded); corona white with faint green eye, funnelform, margins with some gradual spreading in time, shortly tubulose proximally, 2.5–3.5 (–5) × 3–5 cm, margins between free portions of filaments irregularly dentate, with some filiform projections; free portions of filaments inserted on flat sinal base, erect, white, 2.5–4 cm; anthers 1.2–2 cm, pollen deep yellow; ovary oblong to slightly pyriform, 1.4–2.2 cm × 6–12 mm, ovules (3–) 5–8 per locule; style green in distal 1/2, fading to white proximally, 13–20 cm. Capsules ellipsoid, 3.5–4 × ca. 2.5 cm. Seeds obovoid, 1.5–2 × 1–1.4 cm. 2n = 42, 46, 48.


Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer.
Habitat: Cypress swamps, wet prairies, open pine flatwoods, wet roadsides
Elevation: 0 m

Discussion

Hymenocallis palmeri is most closely allied to H. henryae, having similar leaf and floral characteristics, but it is distinguished by its linear leaves, single flower, and perianth tube that is often decidedly longer than the tepals (G. L. Smith and W. S. Flory 1990).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"broad" is not a number."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Hymenocallis palmeri"
48 +, 46 +  and 42 +
cordate +  and linear +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Gerald L. Smith +  and Walter S. Flory† +
S. Watson +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
dilated +
lacerate +  and dentate +
reticulate-veined +  and parallel-veined +
bluish green +
channeled +
sheathing +  and involucrate +
subtending +
lanceolate;lanceolate;ovate;lanceolate;ovate;triangular +
3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
2.5cm +  and 4cm +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
ellipsoid +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (?) +
Alligator-lily +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
connate-coroniform +  and dilated +
fragrant +
diverging +  and erect +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
starlike +
indehiscent +, septicidal +  and loculicidal +
subglobose +  and elongate +
Cypress swamps, wet prairies, open pine flatwoods, wet roadsides +
bracteate +  and umbellate +
paired +, paniculate +  and racemose +
petiolate +  and sessile +
deciduous +
coriaceous +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
oblong;slightly pyriform +
6mm;12mm +
7.5 cm75 mm <br />0.075 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
zygomorphic +  and actinomorphic +
Flowering late spring–summer. +
erect +  and incurved +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
suborbiculate +
wind-distributed +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
1 +  and many +
obovoid +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +  and 1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br /> (?) +
staminodial +
3 +, 4 +  and 6 +
1 +  and several +
fading +  and white +
3 +  and 1 +
filiform +
13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
3.7 cm37 mm <br />0.037 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
Hymenocallis humilis +
Hymenocallis palmeri +
Hymenocallis +
species +
yellow-green;pale green +
connate +  and distinct +
7.5cm;12.5cm +
3mm;7mm +
sepaloid +  and petaloid +
narrower +
grayish brown +
3 +  and 2 +