Lilium longiflorum: Symbol of Purity and Harmony in Taiwan

The Lilium longiflorum, is referred to as the Easter Lily in Taiwan. This beautiful plant has a bulb that is spherical or near-spherical, measuring 2.5-5 centimeters in height, and its scales are white.

The stem, ranging from 45-90 centimeters tall, is green with a light red base. Its leaves are scattered, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, and devoid of hair on both sides. The lily produces single flowers or clusters of 2-3.

These trumpet-shaped flowers are white with a slight green hue on the outer tube. The fruit is rectangular and measures 5-7 centimeters in length. This lily blooms in June and July, and its fruiting period is from August to September.

Native to Taiwan, this fragrant flower contains aromatic oils, making it an ideal ingredient for perfumes. Its elegant and refreshing fragrance makes it a popular choice for cut flower arrangements.

It can be used to adorn flower beds, mirrors, garden ornaments, or potted plants. It can also be used in floral arrangements for decoration. Its straight form, pure white color, and graceful shape exude a sense of purity and elegance.

Furthermore, it symbolizes auspiciousness and harmony, making it a favorable choice for many occasions.

I. Morphological Characteristics

The Musk Lily has a bulb that is spherical or near-spherical, measuring 2.5-5 centimeters in height with white scales. The stem is green, ranging from 45-90 centimeters tall, with a light red base.

The leaves, which are scattered, are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, measuring 8-15 centimeters in length and 1-1.8 centimeters in width, tapering at the tip, with smooth edges and devoid of hair on both sides.

The lily produces single flowers or clusters of 2-3 with stems measuring 3 centimeters. The bracts are lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, approximately 8 centimeters long, and 1-1.4 centimeters wide.

The trumpet-shaped flowers are white with a slight green hue on the outer tube, extending up to 19 centimeters. The inner perianth segments are slightly wider than the outer ones, and the nectar glands do not have papillary protrusions on either side.

The filament measures 15 centimeters and is hairless. The ovary is cylindrical and 4 centimeters long, with a 3-lobed stigma. The fruit is rectangular, measuring 5-7 centimeters in length. This lily blooms in June and July, and its fruiting period is from August to September.

II. Distribution Range

The Musk Lily is native to Taiwan and can also be found in Japan (Ryukyu Islands).

III. Growth Environment

The Musk Lily requires rich humus, well-drained acidic soil, and does not thrive well in carbonate and alkaline soils. It prefers cool, moist climates in the summer. At 5°C, the plant’s growth is stagnant; normal growth occurs at temperatures above 10°C.

However, growth halts again when temperatures exceed 25°C, severely affecting the flower bud differentiation and causing the flower to be blind. The ideal temperature for flower bud differentiation and blooming is between 15°C and 20°C.

For bulbs that have undergone low-temperature vernalization, higher temperatures can accelerate flower bud differentiation but result in fewer leaves and flowers, and shorter stems.

On the other hand, cultivation at low temperatures causes shortened internodes and delayed flowering. Therefore, the suitable cultivation temperature is between 10°C and 20°C. The Musk Lily has a certain degree of shade tolerance and thrives best under sparse forest conditions.

The light in double-layered plastic greenhouses during winter and spring is sufficient for normal and robust plant growth. If the light is too weak, the plant’s growth will be weak, affecting the differentiation of the flower buds.

The length of daylight significantly impacts the plant’s growth and blooming. The Musk Lily is a long-day plant but can also bloom under short-day conditions. Under long-day conditions, flowering is faster.

For example, 18 hours of long-day conditions can advance flowering by 38 days compared to 8 hours of short-day conditions. However, under long-day conditions, the plant has fewer leaves.

In winter cultivation, to promote blooming, it is much more effective to use low-intensity light for 4 hours at night (from 8 PM to midnight) than extending the evening light by 6 to 8 hours.

Bulbs treated with long-day conditions have the same effect as low-temperature treatment but are prone to dedifferentiation at temperatures above 20°C. During the growth period, the soil must be kept moist.

If the soil lacks moisture during the peak period of flower development, it can lead to shortened internodes, affecting cut flower yield.

The blooming period of the Musk Lily is mainly regulated by using a glass greenhouse for warm cultivation, or in warmer areas, using a plastic greenhouse for warm cultivation or non-heated cultivation.

The Musk Lily does not grow well in dry, carbonate soils. It is an autumn-planted bulb that starts to root after planting in the fall, then sprouts new shoots without coming out of the soil.

In the early spring of the following year, it breaks through the soil and begins flower bud differentiation, which requires about a month of low temperatures.

IV. Growth and Reproduction

Bulb Division

Over the course of the growth process, new bulbs gradually form on the stem axis. Generally, each bulb can produce 1 to 3 or more small bulbs after a year of cultivation.

The small bulbs can be harvested in the fall and stored in sand until the following spring for planting, or they can be planted in deep soil in the fall of the same year.

Scale Propagation

Mature, robust bulbs are dried in the shade, and the scales are peeled off from the stem and inserted in April. The insertion depth should be just enough to expose the tip.

Generally, after 2 to 4 months of spring insertion, most of the scales will root and leaf, and small bulbs will grow at the base of the scales, at which point they can be transplanted. It typically takes 3 to 4 years of cultivation for scale-propagated plants to flower.

Seed Sowing

After the capsule fruit matures, the seeds are removed and immediately sown. The seedlings can flower after 2 to 3 years.

V. Disease and Pest Control

Physiological diseases that occur during the cultivation of Muscari lilies mainly include blind flowers and flower splitting. The causes and prevention measures are as follows:

• Blind flower damage occurs when the normal development of flower buds is obstructed, causing the buds to wither. This is often due to overcrowding and insufficient indoor light, or short daylight hours.
  
  Especially when the temperature drops below 5℃, there is a sharp drop in temperature, a large difference between day and night temperatures, and the soil is overly dry or hot. To prevent blind flower damage, try to avoid these situations.
  
• Flower splitting manifests as petal separation and is often caused by sudden changes in temperature and contrasting levels of humidity. To prevent flower splitting, try to avoid rapid changes in temperature and be mindful of watering appropriately.

Soft rot disease mainly affects leaves, flowers, and bulbs, causing elliptical spots on infected petals and leaves. On rainy days, black spots appear on the stems and leaves, causing the leaves to fall off and leading to plant death.

Treatment: If a few plants are infected, immediately prune or uproot them, burn or bury them deeply, and ensure proper ventilation and sunlight to increase disease resistance.

Rot disease and leaf spot disease are caused by bacterial infection of the leaves. Treatment: If infected, spray with a 600-1000 times dilution of 50% germicide every 10-15 days or a 500 times dilution of 40% bactericide. The main preventive measure is to avoid continuous cropping of Muscari lilies.

The pear-shaped bulb mite harms bulbs underground, first harming the stems of the bulbs then spreading upwards. The affected parts turn black and rot, causing death in severe cases.

Treatment: Ensure ventilation and dryness when storing bulbs. Soak the affected bulbs in a 1000 times dilution of 40% trichlorfon for 2 minutes after harvesting and before storage to prevent further damage.

Wireworms often bite off the roots of Muscari lilies, causing wilting and death.

Treatment: Use a black light to lure and kill adult wireworms, or pour a 1000 times dilution of 50% phoxim emulsion at the base of the flowers to kill them.

VI. Main value

Bulbs and flowers: Clear heat and detoxify, moisten the lungs and relieve coughing. Used for coughing, urinating blood, retained placenta, and unnamed swellings.

Muscari lilies can be used as food and seasoning. They share the same category with onions and garlic as bulbous spices, adding aroma to dishes. The bulb is a famous health food, and fresh ones are used to prepare meals.

The taste of the scales is sweet and slightly bitter, with the effects of moistening the lungs, relieving cough, calming the heart, and soothing the mind. It is used for chronic cough, coughing up blood, restlessness, and confusion.

The flowers have the effects of moistening the lungs, clearing heat, and calming the mind. They are used for coughing, dizziness, insomnia, and sores.