Flame Lily.Lilium Philadelphicum.Wood Lily.
Found in upland meadows, woods, and along copse-borders in July.
The stalk grows from 1 to 2 feet high; it is single, leafy, and strong-fibred and smooth; in color a purplish-green.
The leaf is long, narrow, and pointed, of a firm strong texture, and smooth surface. The color is a fall-toned green. The leaves are placed upon the stalk, in whorls of 5 or more, with an occasional one, escaping regularity, lodged between.
The 6 petal-like parts of the large flower-bell are narrowed at their bases into little stems; 3 of the parts have pronounced midribs. The color of this Lily is orange-red, or flame, irregularly marked on the inside with large spots of reddish brown; the 6 stamens, and the pistil, have reddish-brown tips. Usually a single flower, but sometimes two, on slender stems, are erect upon the top of the stalk.
While the general direction of the stalk is upright the flower sways from side to side with a free grace of movement. Sometimes a single plant will stray into some little open clearing of a lonely wood where its flame warms the whole space; or again its bell swings out from the rocky slope of a mountain pasture. Near the seaboard it grows in communities, where its color, intensified by the sea air, gives it the folk-name of “Flame Lily.” The plant is said to be especially indifferent to drought.