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White Roadside Flower Is A Spider Lily

Ask the Expert: I found this and was wondering what it was

Spider Lily

Spider Lily

I found this flower on the side of the road and have never seen one like it. Can you tell me what type of flower it is?
Thank you. Suzanne

Plant Expert Reply:

The lovely white flower is commonly called Spider Lily.  It is a Hymenocallis. I’m not sure which Hymenocallis it is.  It could be one of the following: Hymenocallis lirisome, Hymenocallis littoralis or Hymenocallis occidentalis.  They usually bloom summer through autumn.

White Flowers Is Spider Lily (Hymenocallis lirisome)

Ask the Expert: Help identifying flower

Hymenocallis liriosme - Spider Lily

Hymenocallis liriosme - Spider Lily

This one popped up in our pasture all by itself at the base of a shady hill. No others like it around. It’s about 18 inches high, with no leaves, just the hollow stalk.
Look familiar? David

Plant Expert Reply:

Do you come from a large family? Well this flower does (Amaryllidaceae).  As a result many of the members have the same common name or nickname.  For this plant the common name is Spider lily and is used in association with other plants in the family. Besides spider lily, the flower goes by spring spider lily.

With plants the advantage is every plant must have a botanical name that is associated with them only.  In this case, it is Hymenocallis liriosme.  It is a native plant in AR , LA , MS , OK,  and  TX; growing flood plains, bottomland, ditches, ravines, repressions, marshes, stream banks, prairie, plains, meadows, pastures, and savannahs.  They originate from bulbs and are aromatic with a lemony scent.