Hymenocallis henryae Traub

  • Authority

    Smith, Gerald L. & Flory, Walter S. 1990. Studies on Hymenocallis henryae (Amaryllidaceae). Brittonia. 42 (3): 212-220.

  • Family

    Amaryllidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hymenocallis henryae Traub

  • Description

    Species Description - Bulb subglobose, nonrhizomatous, 6.5-8.5 cm long, 4.5-5.5 cm wide; neck 3.5- 5 cm long; tunica gray-brown. Leaves (2) 4-8, narrowly lorate, broadly channeled, erect, glaucous to slightly glaucous or nonglaucous, apex acute, margin hyaline, 3.5-6.5 dm long, (1) 1.5-2.5 cm wide, deciduous, appearing before the flowers. Scape subcircular, slightly edged, glaucous, 4.5-6.5 (7.5) dm long; 2 scape bracts not enclosing the flower buds, each flower with a single subtending bract, linear- lanceolate, (4) 4.5-5.5 cm long, ca 1 cm wide. Flowers 2 (3), opening sequentially, sessile, slightly diverging, mildly fragrant; perianth tube green, (7) 8-10.5 cm long; perianth segments spreading, greenish-white, (10) 11-14 (15) cm long, (4) 5-7 (8) cm wide (unfolded), each sepal with an osmophore, keeled. Staminal cup white, funnelform, gradually spreading, irregularly toothed between each free filament, (2.5) 3-4 cm long, ca 5 cm wide; free filaments white, slightly incurved to erect, inserted at a sinus, 3-4.5 cm long; anthers 1.5-2 (2.5) cm long, pollen yellow. Style upper half white, fading to green, 16-20 cm long; stigma captitate, ca 2 mm wide. Ovary oblong to pyriform, 1.5-2 (2.5) cm long, ca 1 cm wide; ovules (4) 5-7 (8) per locule. Fruit a subglobose, leathery, green capsule, ca 2 x 2 cm. Seeds fleshy, obovoid, green, 15-18 x 12-14 mm. Somatic chromosome number 2n = 38.

  • Discussion

    Hymenocallis henryae Traub, Plant Life 18: 71. 1962. TYPE: UNITED STATES. FLORIDA: Walton Co.: Santa Rosa, from bulbs collected by Mrs. Mary G. Henry (T-130), specimen Traub 282 a+b [type label states 2 mi SE and 5 mi E of Santa Rosa, but Mrs. Henry's field notes state 1 mi N and 0.8 mi E of 98, Santa Rosa Beach] (HOLOTYPE: MO! ex TRA)

    Hymenocallis henryae, the green pine lily, is endemic to a few sites in Liberty, Gulf, and Walton Counties, Florida (Fig. 4), flowering from the middle of May to the middle of June. It is identified by the narrowly lorate, erect leaves; greenish- white, widely spreading perianth segments nearly always longer than the perianth tube; and usually two flowers per inflorescence (Fig. 5).

    Before the present study Hymenocallis henryae was reported only from the type locality (Flory, 1978; Clewell, 1985). It is found in cypress depressions (somewhat circular sunken areas) at the edge of pine flatwoods or ten to fifteen feet into the pine flatwoods

    In Liberty County the plants have been found in these small depressions in a loose thicket of Taxodium ascendens Brongn., Hypericum brachyphyllum (Spach.) Steud., Clethra alnifolia L., Cyrilla racemiflora L., Smilax laurifolia L., with a ground cover dominated by Carex glaucescens Ell., C. wahteriana Bailey, Panicum scoparium Lam., Scleria sp., Eriocaulon decangulare L., and Sarraceniaflava L. Depending on the abundance of rainfall, the plants have been observed in standing water, wet sandy peat soil, or dry soil. In contrast, the sites in Walton County are on the margins of pine flatwoods and have well drained sandy soil. Here the lower canopy consists of a loose thicket of Ilex myrtifolia Walt., L glabra (L.) A. Gray, Hypericum brachyphyllum (Spach.) Steud., and Smilax laurifolia L. The ground cover is dominated by thick tufts of Aristida stricta Michx. surrounding the clumps of Hymenocallis henryae Traub, Lophiola americana (Pursh) Wood, Lachnanthes caroliniana (Lam.) Dandy, Rhexia alifanus Walt., R. lutea Walt., and Osmunda regalis L.

    A recent collection by Loran Anderson in Gulf County was made from a low sandy ridge with scrubby growth bordering a pine plantation, a habitat which seems more similar to the Walton County sites than those of depressions in Liberty County.

    The rarity of the green pine lily makes it an excellent candidate for official protection. Josephine deN. Henry, Henry Foundation for Botanical Research, and Dr. Ann F. Johnson, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, are attempting to obtain such protection for this species.

    Representative specimens examined: UNITED STATES. FLORIDA: Gulf Co.: Fla 22 along Daniels (Wetappo Creek) Rd., 1 Jun 1989, Anderson 12026 (FSU). Liberty Co.: N of Sumatra along Fla 65, 2 Jun 1979, Godfrey 77087 (FSU), 28 May 1987, Anderson 10617 (FSU), 30 May 1987, Gholson, Godfrey & Sigler 11822 (Herb. Gholson); NW of Sumatra, 10 Jun 1986, Godfrey 82044 (FSU), 26 May 1988, Smith & Garland 1460 (FSU). Walton Co.: Santa Rosa, along 13th Str., 1 Jun 1989, Smith & J. deN. Henry 1478 (FSU); between C-393 and US 331, 1 Jun 1989, Smith & J. deN. Henry 1479 (FSU, PH).