Alligator Lily – hymenocallis palmeri

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

While I was photographing in Florida earlier this year, I was amazed to find two alligator lilies (hymenocallis palmeri) in full bloom at the Kirby Storter area in the Big Cypress National Preserve. From everything I had read, I thought I’d be too early in the year for the alligator lilies. I’d spoken with a couple of park rangers and they confirmed that the alligator lilies wouldn’t be blooming for another few weeks. So you can just imagine how happy I was to find not one but two wonderful alligator lilies to photograph.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

There appears to be a difference of opinion as to what family the Alligator lilies belong to – some sources list them as members of the Lily family – others list them as members of the Amaryllis family. The USDA plant profile database does list them as members of the Lily family. They are native to the southeastern parts of the United States – found in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, growing in cypress swamps, prairies and pine flatwoods. The two I found were growing in a prairie area.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

Once you’ve seen an Alligator Lily – they are easy to identify. They have a white flower with jagged edges, several long bright yellow and white stamens, and long thin green leaves. Alligator lilies should not be eaten – some sources report them as poisonous to humans.

(c) 2011 Patty Hankins

If you’d like more information about Alligator Lilies – you can find additional info at the following online sites

USDA Plant Profile

ENature.com

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Flora of North America

New Photo: Alligator Lily

Alligator Lily (c) 2011 Patty Hankins

 

I’ve recently added a new photo –  Alligator Lily – to my Beautifulflowerpictures.com website.

I photographed this Alligator Lily (Hymenocallis palmeri) at Big Cypress National Preserve not far from the boardwalk at Kirby Storter. I found this on my second morning photographing in the area. Instead of heading into the cypress swamp, I headed out into a field. I wasn’t sure what I’d find – I figured I”d photograph the trees against the bright blue sky. And then I spotted an alligator lily just off the path. A little ways further on the path I found another one. This is the second alligator lily I found – it was in full bloom and in beautiful condition. I’m so glad I headed out into the field that morning instead of back into the swamp.

This photograph is available as either a 12X15 or 20X26 ″ gallery-wrapped canvas.  You can order Alligator Lily from my website and I will have it available at shows.