Hymenocallis latifolia

Bulb nonrhizomatous, forming numerous bulblets, enlarging with age, 4–8 × 2–5 cm; basal plate 2–4 cm; neck 4–6 cm; tunic grayish brown. Leaves evergreen, numerous, arching outwards, spreading distally, 5–10 dm × 4–9 cm, coriaceous; blade broadly liguliform, gradually tapering proximally, apex subacute to acute. Scape 4–10 dm, slightly compressed, glaucous; scape bracts 2, enclosing buds, 4–7 × 1.5–2.5 cm; subtending floral bracts 4–5 cm × 10–15 mm. Flowers 9–15, opening sequentially, fragrant; perianth tube green, 9–20 cm; tepals extending nearly horizontally, reflexed distally, white, 7.5–13 cm × 4–6 mm; corona white with small green eye, funnelform, 2–3 × 3–4 cm, margins between free portions of filaments wavy, without prominent projections; free portions of filaments inserted on flat base, slightly incurved, green except becoming white near insertion, 4–6 cm; anthers 1.2–2 cm, pollen orange; ovary ovoid, 0.9–1.6 cm × 5–10 mm, ovules 2 per locule; style green in distal 1/2, fading to white proximally, 19–23 cm. Capsules subglobose, ca. 3 × 3 cm. Seeds obovoid, 1.8–2.4 × 1.4–1.8 cm. 2n = 46, 70.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Coastal dunes, sand ridges, edges of hammocks and flatwoods, mangrove swamps of southern Florida peninsula and keys, rarely disjunct along coastal nw Florida and Gulf coastal states
Elevation: 0 m

Fla.

Discussion

The long perianth tube in Hymenocallis latifolia contrasts sharply with the short, funnelform staminal corona. This species is a yard favorite throughout Florida.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa