When determining whether a bloom is a lily or not , it is significant to closely examine its characteristics . One coarse mistake is to confuse Alstroemeria , also lie with as Peruvian lily or Lily of the Incas , with true lily . Although they may face similar at first coup d’oeil , there are trenchant characteristic that differentiate the two .
To discover if a flower is a lily , consider the keep up full stop :
1 . Flower Structure : reliable lilies typically have with child , showy flowers with six petals arranged in two sets of three . These flower petal are often pertain to as tepal , as they are similar in show and texture . On the other hand , Alstroemeria peak also dwell of six tepal , but they are commingle together , making it difficult to distinguish between petals and sepals .
2 . Tepal Appearance : In lilies , the six tepal are usually identical in shape , size , and color . They forge a symmetrical , trumpet - form blossom . In dividing line , Alstroemeria has three true petal and three matching sepals , giving the appearance of a six - petaled peak . The tepal of Alstroemeria may have variations in color and pattern , lend to their unique sweetheart .
3 . Plant Height and Growth Habit : lily are known for their improbable and upright growth , often reaching heights of several feet . They have a exclusive , central stem with folio arranged in curlicue or spirals . Alstroemeria , on the other hand , is more often than not shorter and bushier , with stems branching out from the fundament . The leaves are typically arranged in a spiral pattern along the stems .
4 . Bulb vs. Rhizome : Most true lilies grow from bulbs , which are underground repositing structures . These bulbs are fleshy and can be easily separated into scale leaf . Alstroemeria , however , grows from rhizomes , which are thick , horizontal stems that spread underground . Rhizomes are typically tougher and hard to separate than lily bulbs .
5 . inflorescence Time : Different lily coinage flush at different meter of the year , but they typically bloom in late outflow or summertime . Alstroemeria , on the other hand , is know for its long flowering season , often starting in belated spring and continuing through the summer and into drop . This extended blooming period append to its popularity as a garden industrial plant .
Personal Experience : In my own garden , I have encountered both lilies and Alstroemeria . ab initio , I misidentify Alstroemeria for miniature lily due to their standardised visual aspect . However , upon closer inspection , I noticed the decided dispute in flower structure and growth wont . The horn - shaped flush and the bearing of three true flower petal and three matching sepal facilitate me key them as Alstroemeria rather than lily .
In summary , to determine if a flower is a lily or not , one should close examine its peak structure , tepal appearance , plant life altitude , bulb or rootstalk type , and bloom time . By regard these characteristic , it becomes easy to differentiate between on-key lily and Alstroemeria .
Caroline Bates
