Hymenocallis coronaria

Taxobox
name = "Hymenocallis coronaria"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Hymenocallis coronaria in bloom
at Hargrove Shoals in Alabama.
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Amaryllidaceae
genus = "Hymenocallis"
genus_authority =
species = "H. coronaria"
binomial = "Hymenocallis coronaria"
binomial_authority =
synonyms = "Pancratium fluitans"

"Hymenocallis coronaria" (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily) is a species of the genus "Hymenocallis", native to the Southeastern United States. It is an aquatic, perennial flowering plant found only in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Within Alabama it is known as the Cahaba Lily, outside of that state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily due to the fact that it requires a swift, shallow, water current and direct sunlight to flourish.cite web|title=About the Cahaba Lily|work=CahabaLily.com|url=http://www.cahabalily.com/AboutTheCahabaLily.htm|accessdate=2007-12-16] The plant grows to about convert|3|ft|m|1 tall and develops from a bulb that lodges in between rocks in the shoals.cite web|title=The Cahaba Lily|work=Cahabariver.net|url=http://www.cahabariver.net/lily.htm|accessdate=2007-12-16] It blooms from early May to late June. Each fragrant flower blooms for one day.

The plant was first scientifically described in 1783 by William Bartram, as the “odoriferous "Pancratium fluitans" which almost alone possesses the little rocky islets”.cite web|title=Hymenocallis coronaria in Flora of North America|work=eFloras.org|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101673|accessdate=2007-12-16] Hymenocallis coronaria is under consideration for federal protection due to entire populations being wiped out by dam construction.

The largest remaining stand of this plant in the world is located at Hargrove Shoals, within the boundaries of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, near West Blocton, Alabama. In May 1990 West Blocton began holding an annual "Cahaba Lily Festival" at which it crowns a "Cahaba Lily Queen".cite web|author=Davenport, J. L.|title=Cahaba lily | work=Encyclopedia of Alabama | url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-967 | accessdate=2008-10-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.cahabariversociety.org/ The Cahaba River Society]
* [http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=43665 Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge]
* [http://www.cahabariver.net/lily.htm Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area]