98. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
LILIES. 
By Mr. R. W. Wallace. 
[Read July 17, 1900.] 
All of us from our infancy have been acquainted with the Lily in some 
form or other ; and, I suppose, there are few plants that have such an 
ancient history, as we find them mentioned by writers in all times. The 
genus Lilium, according to Maund, was founded on Lihum chalce- 
donicum (fig. 8), and I think it will be of interest if I read what he says 
(" Botanic Garden," vol. iv. p. 292) : — " ' Leios,' signifying ' well polished,' 
is supposed to have been the original word on which the Greeks founded 
their appellation leirion, and hence our Lilium ; a term used by us, as 
its original was formerly by the Greeks, to designate a tribe of mag- 
nificent plants ; but it is probable that their name took a much wider 
range over the produce of the East than in these days of scientific acumen 
is permitted to our Lilium. This old favourite was known in our gardens 
before the days of Gerard, and, as he calls it the Red Lily of Constan- 
tinople, it may be presumed that it was brought thence to England. In 
all ages man has sought for natural objects of beauty, and it may be 
questioned whether, as far as circumstances would admit, equal zeal in 
collecting plants did not exist three centuries ago as at the present day." 
I cannot say whether the above statements are quite correct, but there 
is no doubt about a fine spike of Lilium chalcedonicum conveying to the 
mind the idea of being well polished. 
Much might be said about the history of the Lily and the admiration 
expressed by many old writers for its stately beauty and grace ; but this, 
I fear, would be of little practical interest. 
Lilies, as we all linow, are found in many countries ; but they belong 
exclusively to the southern portion of the continents of Europe, Asia, and 
America, their presence on the latter being limited to the southern half 
Fig. 8, — L. chalcedonicum. 
