Lilium evansii J.B.Wang & Y.D. Gao, 2025

Wang, Jing-Bo, Yuan, Yu-Mei, Ma, Wei-Yin, Yan, Mao-Lin, Yang, Chun-Meng, Pai, Zao-Zha, Li, Hai-Tao & Gao, Yun-Dong, 2025, Lilium evansii (Liliaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China, formed by ancient hybridization and subsequent isolation, Phytotaxa 693 (3), pp. 205-220 : 216-217

Lilium evansii J.B.Wang & Y.D. Gao , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Yingjiang, in alpine meadows, 2400–2600 m, 7 Jul 2023, Yang et al. DHCB 5180 (holotype: CDBI!).

Lilium evansii is similar morphologically to L. mackliniae but the former lacks a saccate perianth while exhibiting a considerable distance between bracts and uppermost leaves, and pedicels of L. evansii are relatively longer compared to those of L. mackliniae , in which stamens are shorter (Table 2).

Perennial herbs with oblate white bulbs, 2–3 cm in diameter, with 20 or more imbricate white scales. Stems erect, 55–75 cm (occasionally 90–160 cm) tall with a solitary flower (occasionally 2–5), reddish brown, densely papillose (hirtellous), with 20–30 leaves concentrated in the middle and base that are spreading or slightly decurved; the uppermost 3–5 forming a whorl at the top of the stem of multi-flowered plants (sometimes single leaf). Leaves narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong-elliptic or linear-oblong mostly 4.0–5.0— 0.4–0.7 cm, glabrous except for few hairs at the base, the midrib and two lateral nerves impressed above and slightly raised beneath. Flowers more or less nodding, perigone cupular or wide-campanulate, about 5.0 cm deep and 5.5–6.0 cm in diameter; externally flushed with rose-purple; inner and outer tepals almost equal in length, the former less wide; outer tepals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or long-acute, folded slightly, recurved, papillose at the apex, 4.0–4.5—1.0– 1.5 cm, with the basal concavity stained red; inner tepals oval, rounded or obtusely acute, papillose apically, round-truncate basally, 4.0–4.5—2.0– 2.5 cm, inside base with a green glistening nectar channel and red stains on both sides. Stamens 2–3 cm long; filaments 1–2 cm long, pale green; anthers dorsifixed at nearly the middle, 0.7–0.8 cm long. Gynoecium 3–4 cm long, green; ovary oblong-clavate; style and stigma 2.5–3.0 cm long, the style slender basally and gradually wider near the trilobed stigma.

Habitat and distribution:—In open alpine bamboo thickets, 2500–2800 m., south-western Yunnan (Yingjiang).

Etymology:—Named in honour of the English botanist William Edgar Evans (1882–1963) for his significant contributions to the taxonomy of the former genus Nomocharis .

Vernacular name: —AEäàā(ying jiang bai he), which means the Yingjiang lily.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lilium evansii. A. Stamens and gynoecium.B. Outer and inner tepals. C. Habit. D. Fruit. E. Seeds. F. Bulb. Photographs taken by multiple authors of this study.