Lilium akkusianum: Discover Turkey’s Unique Lily

The Lilium akkusianum, is a unique lily variety endemic to Turkey. It was discovered in 1993 and first documented and described in 1998. This flower only grows in a few small areas near the forest edges of the southeastern Turkish city of Akkus.

It’s renowned for its highly fragrant scent, reminiscent of lemon soap. The spoon-shaped petals curl backwards, and the flower’s basic color ranges from ivory to light yellow, with delicate purple spots and a yellow flower throat, occasionally appearing in purple.

The anthers are orange, and the pollen is a strong orange-red, while the stamens are white-green.

I. Basic Introduction

Akkus Lily, Lilium akkusianum: The plant stands 80-140 cm tall, reaching up to 180 cm at its highest. The rootstock is onion-shaped, ranging from ovoid to broad elliptical, 60 mm high and 55 mm wide.

The individual scales are numerous and loose, from narrow ovate-lanceolate to narrow lanceolate. The leaves are lanceolate with woolly hairs on the edges and base, and are linear-lanceolate, 21 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, growing alternately around the stem.

The flower is bell-shaped, up to 6 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, with a scent reminiscent of lemon soap. The spoon-shaped petals curl backwards. The flower’s basic color ranges from ivory to light yellow, with delicate purple spots and a yellow flower throat, occasionally appearing in purple.

This plant is endemic to Turkey, only growing in a few small areas near the forest edges of the southeastern Turkish city of Akkus, located in beech forests, forest edges, meadows, and hedges at an altitude of 1100-1500 meters.

II. Growth and Distribution

The Akkus Lily is a unique plant species in Turkey, only growing in a few small areas near the forest edges of the southeastern Turkish city of Akkus, located in beech forests, forest edges, meadows, and hedges at an altitude of 1100-1500 meters.

With only a few hundred plants, it is an extremely rare lily. Discovered in 1993, it was first recorded and described in 1998. The flowers are described as having a very fragrant aroma, initially light yellow, quickly turning white, with deep purple spots.

This member of the lily family is markedly different from other lilies in the same genus. To grow, it requires a good drainage situation.

III. Morphology and Characteristics

The Akkus Lily stands 80-140 cm tall, reaching up to 180 cm at its highest. The rootstock is onion-shaped, ranging from ovoid to broad elliptical, 60 mm high and 55 mm wide. The individual scales are numerous and loose, from narrow ovate-lanceolate to narrow lanceolate, cream-colored.

The many olive to yellow-green stems are straight and hairless, with lanceolate leaves covered in woolly hairs on the edges and base, linear-lanceolate, 21 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, growing alternately around the stem.

The olive to yellow-green stems are straight and hairless. The leaves, which grow on the edges and base, are hairy and range from lanceolate to linear and willow-leaf shaped, reaching up to 21 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. They grow alternately around the stem.

The plant’s flower buds are fuzzy, blooming from June to July, with 1-6 flowers, rarely more than 25 flowers in one cluster on a hanging flower spike.

The flower is bell-shaped, up to 6 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, with a scent reminiscent of lemon soap. The spoon-shaped petals curl backwards.

The flower’s basic color ranges from ivory to light yellow, with delicate purple spots and a yellow flower throat, occasionally appearing in purple. The anthers are orange, and the pollen is a strong orange-red. The stamens are white-green.