Lemon lily is a slender-stemmed perennial growing to 5' tall in moist, springy areas, wet meadows and along shaded stream banks from 4000' to 9000'.  The leaves tend to be somewhat scattered in young plants and as they age develop into 1-8 whorls. The individual leaves are usually quite linear and are 3"-6" long.  There are 1-several showy fragrant flowers which are bright lemon-yellow in color with occasional maroon spots, and  six perienth segments, with the sepals and petals appearing much the same.  The tips of these segments are turned back but not as much as with Lilium humboldtii.  The stamens are about the same length as the perianth, but because the perianth parts are reflexed, they generally appear exserted.  The anthers are a pale magenta-brown and the pistil is about 4" long.  Although uncommon, tt may be found in montane coniferous forest in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mts, and in the Peninsular Range.  It blooms from July to August.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Lilium 2) parryi.
Pronunciation: LIL-ee-um PARE-ee-eye.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.