INTRODUCTORY 5 



limit is Siberia and Canada and the southern the Neil- 

 gherry Hills in India. In this zone there occur three 

 main centres, and beyond these are to be found species 

 that have strayed from the concentrated areas. These 

 central areas are California, Europe, and the far east 

 Japan, China, and India, including Burmah. The Lilies 

 beyond the central areas are few, and sometimes they 

 have affinity with the species comprised in the crowded 

 areas, sometimes not. 



For instance, the Canadian Lily (L. canadense) has 

 affinity with the extreme Western species such as par- 

 dalinum and superbum, while the species in the Eastern 

 States of America, such as philadelphicum and Cattsbcri, 

 are related more closely to the European and Eastern 

 species. 



This wide geographical distribution of the genus gives 

 rise therefore to Lilies of extremely diverse character, 

 though all agreeing in the botanical characteristics of 

 the genus. 



The range of growth runs parallel with other dis- 

 tinguishing characters. Thus from the stately form of the 

 Giant Lily of the Himalayas (L. giganteum), which rises 

 ten to fifteen feet high, there is every grade of stature 

 to the humble growth of the dwarf Japanese varieties 

 of L. elegans a few inches high only, but otherwise in 

 every essential detail all are true Lilies. 



Form of flower and size also have a wide range from 

 the huge Trumpet Lilies of the Far East to the tiny 

 flowers of the Californian Z,. parvum of the extreme 

 West. Colour variation in the flower is not so re- 

 markable ; white, yellow, and orange to brilliant scarlet 

 is the chromatic scale ; and though there are no actual 

 blues, the painter has to use blue on his palette to paint 

 faithfully the subtle tints of several Lilies. 



A Lily is recognised as a Lily wherever met with in 

 any part of the world. The scaly bulbs, the erect stems, 



