Lily

Lilium (members of which are true lilies) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants

growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants

which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are native to the

temperate northern hemisphere, though their range extends into the northern subtropics. Many

other plants have "lily" in their common name but are not related to true lilies.

The range of lilies in the Old World extends across much of Europe, across most of Asia

to Japan, south to India, and east to Indochina and the Philippines. In the New World they extend

from southern Canada through much of the United States.

Lilies manly have five main parts. First is its bulb. Rather than just roots, a lily has a bulb

on the bottom. This bulb stores nutrients and saves them up for the next season's bloom. Lilies

bloom annually so this bulb system sustains them during the winter months. The roots that grow

from the bulb absorb moisture from the soil and also keep the plant firmly anchored in the

ground. Second is the stem and leaves. Many different species of lilies are grown, so their stems

and leaves vary. Some stems are only a few inches tall, while other tall varieties can grow as

high as 8 feet. The leaves make food for the plant, which is then stored in the bulb. Third is their

sepals and petals. Sepals are the leafy parts that are underneath the petals. They can be green or

they can match the color of the petals. The sepals are what initially encase the immature flower

bud and protect it. Lily petals often have lines and dots on them. These markings actually serve

as a map for insects, leading them to the nectar. Fourth is its stamen. It identifies the male parts

of the flower. The stamen consists of two parts: the anther and the filament. The filament is the

stem-like part that holds up the anther and anchors it to the center of the flower. There are

usually several stamens around the inside of the lily. The anther is the rounded section at the top

of each filament. The anther holds the pollen of the flower. The fifth is the female parts of the

flower, which is called pistils. It includes the stigma, style, ovary and egg cells. The pistil is the

large center part of the flower. At the top of the pistil is the stigma. The stigma is rounded and is

sticky to the touch. It is sticky so that it can catch pollen. It is attached to the ovary with a stem-

like portion called the style. The ovary is the big round portion at the bottom of the pistil. It

contains the unfertilized eggs as well as seeds.

Shafira Nurul Annisa

XI CI Akselerasi

Report text: Lily

Lilies reproduce using two ways: asexual and sexual. The easiest method of propagating

lilies asexually is division. Simply separate younger plants and bulbs from the older ones in the

fall, and replant them. There may also be bulbils, bulblets, or offsets growing from the parent

plants. These can be removed and replanted to produce a new plant. If no offsets are present, the

lily can be propagated by bulb scales. To propagate by this method, remove scales from the main

bulb and clean them of dirt or rot. Then place the scales in a plastic zip-lock bag about two-thirds

full of moistened sphagnum peat moss. Shake the bag gently to cover the scales, then zip it

closed. Store the bag at room temperature. In a few weeks, small bulblets should begin to form

on the scales. When these develop roots, they can be gently removed and planted. As for the

sexual propagation, it is called pollination. Pollination is accomplished when pollen grains, the

male gametes of the plant, are transferred to the stigma by an insect or other physical action. The

pollen grains come in contact with the stigma and stick to it. Pollen travels down a path called a

pollen tube through the pistil into the ovule to fertilize the ova. Seeds then form in the lily

flower. As the seeds mature, the flower dies, and a seed pod grows. The pod eventually releases

its seeds.

Lilies have various kinds. According to the species and interspecific hybrids that they

derived from, they’re classified as: Asiatic hybrids, derived from central and East Asian species

and interspecific hybrids, it’s medium-sized, upright or outward facing flowers, mostly

unscented. Martagon hybrids, the flowers are nodding, Turk's cap style (with the petals strongly

recurved). Candidum (Euro-Caucasian) hybrids, includes mostly European species. American

hybrids, mostly taller growing forms and many are clump-forming perennials with rhizomatous

rootstocks. Longiflorum hybrids, these are cultivated forms of this species and its subspecies,

also they are most important as plants for cut flowers, and are less often grown in the garden than

other hybrids. Trumpet lilies (including Aurelian hybrids), the flowers are trumpet shaped, facing

outward or somewhat downward, and tend to be strongly fragrant, often especially night-

fragrant. Oriental hybrids are fragrant, and the flowers tend to be outward facing. Plants tend to

be tall, and the flowers may be quite large. The whole group is sometimes referred to as

"stargazers" because many of them appear to look upwards. The last kind is Other hybrids which

Includes all other garden hybrids.

Lilies can grow in several kinds of places which fulfill the requirements so it can fully

cultivate. They are commonly adapted to either woodland habitats, often montane, or sometimes

to grassland habitats. A few can survive in marshland and epiphytes are known in tropical

southeast Asia. In general they prefer moderately acidic or lime-free soils.

Lilies face natural enemies such as pests and diseases. Aphids may infest

plants. Leatherjackets feed on the roots. Larvae of the Scarlet lily beetle can cause serious

damage to the stems and leaves. Plants can suffer from damage caused by mice, deer and

squirrels. Slugs, snails and millipedes attack seedlings, leaves and flowers. Brown spots on damp

leaves may signal botrytis (also known as lily disease). Various fungal and viral diseases can

cause mottling of leaves and stunting of growth.

Lilies aren’t just pretty, they’re also useful. They can function as cuisine. In China, dried

lily flower buds which are called golden needles or “jin zhen” in China are used in Chinese

cuisine. They are soaked and cooked with mushrooms. In China, “baihe gan” or the L. brownie

bulbs are considered to be a health and luxury food. Aside from that, lilies can also be used as

medicine. In their tradition, lily bulbs can cure sore throats, build the lungs stronger, help address

heart problems and improve kidney functions. They can also be used to lower down fever

temperatures. Some people use lily bulbs to help them relax and improve sleep. European history

also shows that they have used lily bulbs for medicinal purposes like fevers, cleaning wounds

and sores. As for decoration, there are some countries that grow lilies in pots and are used as a

patio plant. The Easter lily is indispensable in Easter trade and are considered to be important cut

flowers. Lilies also take part as an environmental sustainer. In the Philippines, water lilies or

water hyacinth and bamboos are used to clean polluted rivers. It is used as a biological filter

helping the water get cleaned of pollution and heavy metals. Other Southeast Asian countries

have been using this, prior to the Philippines. If you have a pond with fishes in it, then try adding

some water lilies. They provide a habitat for micro-organisms that fishes feed on, according to

the Texas A&M University. By doing so, your fish would not require too much artificial

food. Aside from food sources, Langston University recommends using water lily for fish ponds

since they may provide shade and also hiding places for fishes. Also, lilies can actually be used

to make handicraft. Still in the Philippines, water lilies are used and converted into fibre which

can be used in textile manufacturing. Water lilies are transformed into hand-woven products like

slippers, handicrafts and placemats.