Lilium pyrophilum, the sandhills lily, is a North American species of plant in the lily family. It is endemic to the Sandhills region of southern Virginia, North Carolina and northern South Carolina, in the eastern United States.[1] [2]
Lilium pyrophilum produces a rhizomatous bulbous root system which is occasionally branched. The plant grows to 0.6-1.6 m (*) It has long narrow, slightly pointed leaves arranged in a variable number of whorls around the stem. The leaves may be upright or drooping. The yellow or yellow - orange inflorescence is borne on racemes of 1 - 7 flowers, they are pendant and not fragrant. The petals can be reddish, reddish - orange, dusky red or magenta towards the tip and marked with magenta spots and turned back in a "turks cap" shape. The anthers are magenta or purple. It blooms from late July to mid - August. Lilium pyrophilum is also named the "Sandhills lily" from its restricted location where it benefits from regular brush fires.[3]
Lilium pyrophilum is botanically related to Lilium superbum, with which it may be confused, and Lilium michauxii with which it can cross-pollinate.[3]
By observations it appears that the ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilocus colubris) may be involved in the pollination of this flower and the Palamedes swallowtail butterfly also pollinates this lily.[3]