Skip to content

Flame lily

Lilium philadelphicum

Family: Liliaceae Genus: Lilium Species: philadelphicum

Synonyms: Lilium wansharicum, Lilium philadelphicum var. angustifolium, Lilium philadelphicum f. flaviflorum, Lilium masseyi, Lilium philadelphicum var. pulchrum, Lilium montanum, Lilium philadelphicum f. lanceolatum, Lilium lanceolatum, Lilium andinum, Lilium philadelphicum f. wausharaicum, Lilium philadelphicum f. immaculatum, Lilium philadelphicum f. montanum, Lilium philadelphicum f. pulchrum, Lilium philadelphicum var. wausharaicum, Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum, Lilium philadelphicum f. andinum, Lilium philadelphicum subsp. typicum, Lilium umbellatum, Lilium philadelphicum var. montanum, Lilium philadelphicum subsp. umbellatum, Lilium philadelphicum f. masseyi

Flame lily (en)
Lilium philadelphicum — flower
Lilium philadelphicum — flower

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
vulneraryexpectorantdiaphoretic

Botanical Description

Lilium philadelphicum, the wood lily or flame lily, is a bulbous perennial herb in the Liliaceae native to meadows, prairies, open woods, and montane forest clearings across much of eastern and central North America. Plants arise from a small, scaly, white to yellowish bulb and reach 30 to 100 cm tall on a slender, unbranched stem bearing one to several whorls of three to eight narrow-lanceolate leaves 4 to 10 cm long, with scattered alternate leaves above. One to five upright, cup-shaped flowers are borne terminally in June and July; the six tepals are 4 to 8 cm long, brilliant orange to scarlet, flecked with maroon spots on a yellow base near the centre, and abruptly narrowed into slender claws so that gaps appear between them. Six prominent stamens bear orange-brown anthers. The fruit is an erect, oblong capsule splitting into three valves to release flat, winged seeds.

Native Region: Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

Wood lily was an important medicinal plant for many Native American peoples. Dermatological poultices of the crushed bulb or flower were widely applied to swellings, bruises, wounds, sores, and spider bites — the Lakota specifically used flower poultices for spider bites (Densmore, 1928; Herrick, 1977; Mechling, 1959). The Iroquois, Malecite, Micmac, and Cree of the Woodlands prepared infusions or decoctions of the bulb as a cough medicine, tuberculosis remedy, and febrifuge (Herrick, 1977; Mechling, 1959; Leighton, 1985). Gastrointestinal preparations of the bulb were taken for stomach complaints, and several tribes employed the plant as a love medicine and in witchcraft medicine (Herrick, 1977). Bulbs were also cooked as a vegetable by the Algonquin, Chippewa, and other groups (Black, 1980).

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
182602

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

Back to Herb Database