Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum (Kellogg) Thorne, Aliso 9: 195. 1978

Compton, James & Skinner, Mark W., 2021, The history and typification of Lilium humboldtii J. H. Krelage (Liliaceae), PhytoKeys 182, pp. 39-55 : 39

Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum (Kellogg) Thorne, Aliso 9: 195. 1978

Basionym: Lilium bloomerianum var. ocellatum Kellogg, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 5: 88 (1873). Lectotype designated here: [Icon] Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 5: 88 (1873: t. 4, see Fig. 4 ).

≡ Lilium humboldtii var. ocellatum (Kellogg) Baker, Journ. Linn. Soc. (Botany) 14(76): 245 (1874).

≡ Lilium ocellatum (Kellogg) Beane, Contr. Dudley Herb. 4: 358 (1955).

= Lilium bloomerianum Kellogg, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4: 160 (1872). Type: USA, California, [Icon] not seen, probably destroyed; Neotype designated here: USA, California, A.Kellogg & W.G.W.Harford 978 coll. 1868-1869. (US neo!) [US-03945856].

≡ Lilium humboldtii var. bloomerianum (Kellogg) Purdy, J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 26: 354 (1901).

= Lilium humboldtii var. magnificum Purdy, J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 26: 353 (1901). Type not seen

= Lilium fairchildii M.E.Jones, Contr. W. Bot. 16: 39, 26 (1930) holotype: USA, California, San Diego, Mt. Palomar, west of Hot Springs, 13 July 1929, M.E.Jones 24762 (RSA, holo!) [RSA-0000358]

Note 1.

In the absence of any type material, the description of L. bloomerianum by Kellogg of the bulbs as purplish and his statement "This is the most magnificent lily of the Pacific coast" indicate that he was describing L. humboldtii subsp. ocellatum . This is reinforced by Purdy’s description of L. humboldtii var. bloomerianum (with L. bloomerianum Kellogg also cited) as occurring in San Diego County which is within the range of subsp. Lilium bloomerianum ocellatum , but outside that of subsp. Lilium bloomerianum humboldtii . The only material indicated in the protologue as type of the name L. bloomerianum is the illustration donated by an unknown donor to the California Academy of Sciences which may have perished in the earthquake and fire of 1906 (Emily Magnaghi; Seth Cotterell, pers. comm.). A neotype has, therefore, been chosen.

It could be argued that, under Art. 36.1 ( Turland et al. 2018), the name L. bloomerianum is not a validly published name as it could be seen as a "provisional name" that has been merely proposed in anticipation of its future acceptance. In his report to the California Academy of Science, Kellogg stated "Out of respect to its time-honored cultivator, Mr. H. G. Bloomer, he offered the provisional name of Lilium bloomerianum ". In this case, however, Kellogg added the comment "This lily is the most magnificent lily of the Pacific Coast" and the diagnostic sentence "This lily is easily discriminated from all others in any stage of its growth". These comments are more than merely provisional. Moreover, the formal heading of "On Lilium bloomerianum ", as well as the full description, indicates that Kellogg is validly describing the species.

Note 2.

Original herbarium material of Lilium bloomerianum var. ocellatum is stated in the protologue to have been gathered by William George Willoughby Harford of the U. S. Coast Survey from Santa Rosa Island. No specimen has been located. It is possible that it might also have perished in the earthquake and fire at CAS in 1906 (Emily Magnaghi, pers. comm.). We have, therefore, chosen the illustration (plate 4) that accompanies the text, as the lectotype of the name ( Kellogg 1873 t. 4, see Fig. 4 ).

Diagnostic description.

Bulb: often purplish, especially apically; scales notched, segmented with 2-5 poorly defined segments or occasionally unsegmented; stem roots frequently present. Racemes: 1-25-flowered. Flowers: with sepals and petals yellow or light orange, speckled with large red or magenta spots aureolated with light red margins, spots larger and their margins wider and lighter towards the apex; pollen tan or peach, becoming yellow or tan-yellow, occasionally tan-orangish or rust. Seeds: 150-252 per capsule.

Distribution.

U.S.A., California (Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura). In addition to the mainland (see counties above), it occurs on the larger northern Channel Islands, where it is the only native lily.

Ecology.

Flowering late spring-summer (mid-May to July). Oak canyons, chaparral; 0-1800 m elev. Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum is similar to subsp. humboldtii , but the yellowish sepals and petals with widely margined spots, lighter-coloured pollen and purplish bulb with notched scales are distinctive.

Illustration.

Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum Photo. Mark Skinner (Fig. 5 ): Peutz Valley, east of San Diego, California

Figures

Figure 4. Illustration chosen as lectotype for the name Lilium bloomerianum var. ocellatum Kellogg, in Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 5: t. 4 (Kellogg 1873).

Figure 5. Representative specimen of Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum in Peutz Valley near San Diego, California, showing the ocellated markings on the floral segments of the subspecies. (Mark Skinner).