Ecological characteristics of Lilium japonicum Thunb. at native habitat

Abstract

Some ecological characteristics of Lilium japonicum, particularly in respect to its life cycle, were investigated in native habitat. As the regrowth rate of foliage scale removing foliage part was only 15%, it is suggested that the present undergrowth management practices used to conserve the native habitat of mature lilies is preventing the growth of the young plants needed to replace older ones. Only 50% of the flowering-size bulbs displayed the following year. In addition, the survival rate of seed capsules, at three months after flowering, was greatly reduced because of weather conditions and insect damage. The percentage of repeat-flowering bulbs, which normally produced seeds, was estimated to be very low. Because L.japonicum is regarded as partially self-fertile as well as allogamous, it is considered that maintaining the population of pollinators is important for conservation of this lily in its native habitat