Lloydia serotina
Encyclopedia
Lloydia serotina is an arctic-alpine
flowering plant of the lily family
. It is the only member of the genus Lloydia
to live outside central and eastern Asia
, and is widespread across western North America
, from Alaska
to New Mexico
, and in Europe is found in the Alps
and Carpathians
, as well as in Great Britain
.
It was originally known as mountain spiderwort, but is now known in Great Britain
as the Snowdon lily, or in Welsh
as brwynddail y mynydd (meaning "rush-leaves of the mountain"). In North America
, it is called the common alplily.
-like leaves, often protruding through cushions of other plants. The flowers appear from June onwards (despite the name serotina, meaning "late-flowering"), and are borne at the end of long stalks. The flowers themselves are white, with purple or reddish veins along the petals.
In Great Britain, L. serotina is an ice age relict
, only found on a few inaccessible sites in Snowdonia National Park, Cwm Idwal
being one such site, and seems to have developed in isolation since the glacial period. Although the total Welsh population may number fewer than 100 bulb
s, the Welsh plants are genetically distinct from other populations of the same species, and are more diverse than those found in the Alps.
While their inaccessibility protects the plants to a certain degree against grazing
by sheep and trampling by hikers, they are likely to suffer under climate change
, and it is believed that L. serotina will be the first plant to become extinct in the British Isles
as a result of global warming
. Plans are therefore being considered to introduce the plant to sites in Scotland
, where it may survive in the longer term.
Arctic-alpine
An arctic-alpine taxon is one whose natural distribution includes the Arctic and more southerly mountain ranges, particularly the Alps. The presence of identical or similar taxa in both the tundra of the far north, and high mountain ranges much further south is testament to the similar...
flowering plant of the lily family
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
. It is the only member of the genus Lloydia
Lloydia
Lloydia is a genus of flowering plants comprising about a dozen species, most of which live in Central and Eastern Asia. One species, Lloydia serotina is a more widespread arctic-alpine plant...
to live outside central and eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and is widespread across western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and in Europe is found in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and Carpathians
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, as well as in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
It was originally known as mountain spiderwort, but is now known in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
as the Snowdon lily, or in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
as brwynddail y mynydd (meaning "rush-leaves of the mountain"). In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, it is called the common alplily.
Description
For most of the year, the plant is only visible as long, curving, stiff, grassGrass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
-like leaves, often protruding through cushions of other plants. The flowers appear from June onwards (despite the name serotina, meaning "late-flowering"), and are borne at the end of long stalks. The flowers themselves are white, with purple or reddish veins along the petals.
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
, only found on a few inaccessible sites in Snowdonia National Park, Cwm Idwal
Cwm Idwal
Cwm Idwal is a hanging valley in the Glyderau range of mountains in northern Snowdonia, the national park in the mountainous region of North Wales. Its main interest is to hill walkers and rock climbers, but it is also of interest to geologists and naturalists, given its combination of altitude ,...
being one such site, and seems to have developed in isolation since the glacial period. Although the total Welsh population may number fewer than 100 bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s, the Welsh plants are genetically distinct from other populations of the same species, and are more diverse than those found in the Alps.
While their inaccessibility protects the plants to a certain degree against grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
by sheep and trampling by hikers, they are likely to suffer under climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, and it is believed that L. serotina will be the first plant to become extinct in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
as a result of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Plans are therefore being considered to introduce the plant to sites in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, where it may survive in the longer term.
External links
- Lloydia serotina, PLANTS Profile