Madonna lily
Encyclopedia
Lilium candidum is a plant in the genus Lilium
, one of the true lilies. It is native to the Balkans
and West Asia. It forms bulbs at ground level, and unlike other lilies, has a basal rosette of leaves through the winter, which die back in summer. A leafy flower stem, typically up to 1.2 m high, sometimes up to 2 m high, emerges in late spring and bears fragrant flowers in summer. Flowers are white, flushed yellow at the base.
It has long been cultivated, but is susceptible to virus
diseases of lilies, and to Botrytis
fungus. One possible way to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants raised from seed.
Madonna lilies are depicted on wall paintings at the Minoan palace of Knossos
.
The Madonna Lily symbolizes purity
for Roman Catholics. Medieval depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary often show her holding these flowers.
There are translations of the Bible
that identify the Hebrew word Shoshannah as 'lily' in Song of Songs
("As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." Song of Songs 2:2 (KJV)), not as a rose
as is customary to translate. For example, Abraham ibn Ezra
describes it as a white flower, which has a good fragrance, and has a six-petal flower and six stamen
s. But its identity is uncertain, because it does not fit with the description as "the lily of the valleys", because mostly it grows in the mountains.
In King Solomon's Temple there were designs of Madonna lilies on the column
s and the brazen Sea (Laver).
Lilium
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
, one of the true lilies. It is native to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and West Asia. It forms bulbs at ground level, and unlike other lilies, has a basal rosette of leaves through the winter, which die back in summer. A leafy flower stem, typically up to 1.2 m high, sometimes up to 2 m high, emerges in late spring and bears fragrant flowers in summer. Flowers are white, flushed yellow at the base.
It has long been cultivated, but is susceptible to virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
diseases of lilies, and to Botrytis
Botrytis
Botrytis may refer to:*Botrytis, the anamorphs of fungi of the genus Botryotinia**Botrytis cinerea, a mold important in wine making*Botrytis, the cauliflower cultivar group of Brassica oleracea...
fungus. One possible way to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants raised from seed.
Gallery
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Madonna Lilies in art and culture
The Madonna lily is often described as being the basis of the fleur de lis, though the shape of this stylised flower more strongly resembles that of a flag iris.Madonna lilies are depicted on wall paintings at the Minoan palace of Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
.
The Madonna Lily symbolizes purity
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
for Roman Catholics. Medieval depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary often show her holding these flowers.
There are translations of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
that identify the Hebrew word Shoshannah as 'lily' in Song of Songs
Song of songs
Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. It may also refer to:In music:* Song of songs , the debut album by David and the Giants* A generic term for medleysPlays...
("As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." Song of Songs 2:2 (KJV)), not as a rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
as is customary to translate. For example, Abraham ibn Ezra
Abraham ibn Ezra
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
describes it as a white flower, which has a good fragrance, and has a six-petal flower and six stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s. But its identity is uncertain, because it does not fit with the description as "the lily of the valleys", because mostly it grows in the mountains.
In King Solomon's Temple there were designs of Madonna lilies on the column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s and the brazen Sea (Laver).
External links
- Lilium candidum in israelwildflowers.co.il
- Lilium candidum Flowers in Israel