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North Carolina, United States
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Brigham, Wisconsin, United States
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close up image of Lilium michiganense TURK'S CAP LILY at the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve - single bloom showing typical color
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close up image of Lilium michiganense TURK'S CAP LILY at the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve - stem and leaves detail
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close up image of Lilium michiganense TURK'S CAP LILY at the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve - single bloom, showing color change from typical, a result of age of bloom, and/or moisture or temperature variations from year to year
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Dodgeville, Wisconsin, United States
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Springdale, Wisconsin, United States
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field image of Lilium michiganense TURK'S CAP LILY at the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve - single bloom, top down view showing leaves curving back
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field image of Lilium michiganense TURK'S CAP LILY at the James Woodworth Prairie Preserve - single bloom, bottom up view from the side showing prominent stigma and anthers
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Brigham, Wisconsin, United States
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St.-Martin-Vesubie, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
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St.-Martin-Vesubie, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
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These rare lilies only grow on the Appalachian Balds and a few other areas in the Southern Appalachians and don't occur anywhere else in the world. They are listed as "vulnerable" globally because of their restricted range, and endangered in Tennessee and a "species of concern" federally in the US. They were named after Asa Gray, one of America's most famous 19th century botanists. After getting some tips from the naturalists on Grandfather Mountain, I was able to find a few of them. It was a stormy day and had just rained heavily with the sun breaking through the clouds again, making the flowers glow and glitter in the forest. Luckily they were growing close enough to the trail to zoom in for pictures.
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Such beauties! These plants were the reason I was hiking over the Appalachian Balds yesterday. I was hoping to find some and happy to see four close enough to the trail to be photographed without trampling all over the vegetation. Several miles in, I had counted about a dozen and eventually stopped counting. So many of them, so good to see!This lily is an endangered and protected species where it grows and doesn't grow anywhere else in the world, so if you see it growing along the Appalachian Trail, please do not disturb the plants. Not only would it be detrimental to the survival of this rare flower, but you could actually get into trouble with the law. The plants are reported to have problems with seed production due to a fungal pathogen that attacks them before the capsules ripen. So please do not collect any seeds either. They likely would not germinate or grow outside of their natural habitat anyway since they are so specialized to the Appalachian Balds ecosystem.
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