Spider Lily

These are from last year at this time... and guess what. They are right on time. I took a few more pics of the same in the last days, and nice dress shoes are still stinking wet from wading into the bog to take them. I guess I should carry sneakers with me.
Spider Lily, or -- my name: "Gothic Bride"
Hymenocallis occidentalis or
Hymenocallis caroliniana
family: Liliaceae

All pics 5/12/2005 - in the empty field across from the Dave Ward Walmart in Conway, AR

Turns out there are several different flowers of quite different appearance (but belonging to the lily family) that claim the name "Spider lily" -- and this is one of them. Scientific name is either Hymenocallis occidentalis (see : http://www.briartech.com/summer/slily/slily.htm ) or Hymenocallis caroliniana (see: http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H22.htm ).

Concerning the name, the folks at 2-bn-the- wild write: Hymenocallis means "beautiful membrane" which refers to the the corona that connects the stalks of the stamens for a portion of their length. This is a large spectacular flower that is exciting to find unexpectedly.

I concur. First time I saw one I was so "startled" that I thought it must be fake. But it didn't feel like plastic... or even a regular flower. In keeping with its swampy nature, it felt kind of sticky and damp, like wilted cabbage.

This lily is built on a symmetry of six. Six Stamen, six petals, six corona sections.

Snapshot Week 19: 5/10-5/16 - 40 days shy

Busted. Almost three weeks of steady rain, with a strom or two thrown in for good measure.


Pecan tree heavy with floral catkins. Peacnas are one of last major trees to go to leaf.

Green day with moss, Sweetgum tree

Swamp dwelling Spider Lilies flourished at the begining of the week, went bad by the end.

"Jetson" weeds, among the crimson clover seed heads.

The up and coming weed extravaganza.

Southern mags, the big guys are out in full force.

After almost three weeks of steady rain, Arkansas is one big wet green Miso-soup soppy mess. It would appear, however, that the weeds and grasses really like it. (Wonder what it ever feels to be a germ living on green mold... go outside.)



Given the weather my observatory skills may be diminished, but here is a quick count:

1. Wild Pink carnation roses, starting to take to the highway hedge rows
2. Still lots of honeysuckle.
3. Queen Anne's lace in bell curve growth spurt
4. Poisson Hemlock (or that which looks like QAL but is not, rising in the shadows.
5. Grass, Grass, weeds, and all kinds of things that I have yet to find names for.
6. Spider lilies now expired.
7. Catalpa trees in floral heat.
8.