Lilium arboricola
(W. T. Stearn, 1954)
The Tree-Lily of Burma (historic name / now considered misapplied)
Note: The name Lilium arboricola was originally assigned to a plant described from Burma (Myanmar) that was believed to be an epiphytic lily. Later botanical research determined that the original type material was misidentified. The plant Stearn described is now generally accepted to have been a form of Lilium nepalense, and the true epiphytic Indochinese lily is Lilium eupetes (described later, 2008).
Nevertheless, Lilium arboricola occupies an important chapter in lily history and early Himalayan botanical exploration, and the horticultural trade occasionally still uses the name.
Historical Context and Introduction
Lilium arboricola entered botany through romantic circumstances: specimens reportedly seen flowering on tree trunks in cloud-forests of Upper Burma, a thrilling revelation to lily enthusiasts, suggesting the genus was not strictly terrestrial. William T. Stearn described it formally in 1954, and for decades it stood as the first known “epiphytic lily.”
However, later examination of surviving herbarium material, habitat records, and morphology revealed the plant represented a shade-adapted montane form of L. nepalense rather than an arboreal specialist. The true epiphytic Himalayan lily would not be confirmed until 2006 with the discovery of Lilium eupetes in Vietnam.
Thus, L. arboricola survives as a botanical ghost, a name born of early field confusion and the mystique of remote Himalayan forests.
While the epiphytic claim made the species famous, later studies suggest the original plant may have been growing from humus pockets on sloping roots or embankments, not truly epiphytic.
Modern treatments (Flora of China, Kew) recognize no separate species under this name.
The original material is best interpreted as:
- Lilium arboricola Stearn = a misapplied form of Lilium nepalense (≡ synonym; invalid as distinct)
Significance
Although taxonomically corrected, Lilium arboricola holds enduring value in lily history. It reminds us how botanical discovery can be shaped by remote landscapes, fragmentary field reports, and the powerful imagination of early plant explorers. It also serves as the conceptual precursor to the validation of arboreal lily ecology, which would only be confirmed a half-century later.
In spirit, it opened the door for the acceptance of epiphytic behavior in the genus, even if its identity was misplaced.
Works Cited
Stearn, W. T. (1954). Original description of L. arboricola.
Flora of China, Vol. 24 — Lilium treatment (notes on synonymy).
Woodcock, H. & Stearn, W.T. Lilies of the World. Country Life.
McRae, E. (1998). Lilies: A Guide for Growers and Collectors. Timber Press.
Duan, Y. et al. (2022). Biogeography and phylogeny of Lilium. BJLS.
Gao, Y-D. et al. (2015). Plastid phylogenomics of Lilium. MPE.
Crûg Farm Plant Explorations (notes on epiphytic lily identification).
Lilium Species Foundation notes (2024) — epiphytic Sinomartagon lineage clarification.