Lilium candidum: Flowering characterization of wild Israeli ecotypes

Lilium candidum is a rare geophyte with a tall stem and large, fragrant, pure white flowers, found in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. It is an endangered species in the Israeli flora, with a high priority for conservation. Characterization and conservation of wild ecotypes are essential for preserving this important plant. We have established a collection of wild L. candidum ecotypes collected at four locations in Kelach Creek in Mount Carmel and in the Kziv Creek in the Galilee, and assessed flowering-related traits in plants growing in their natural habitats and under controlled conditions in Be'er Sheva for two consecutive years. Variation among locations was observed for flowering time and stem length, but not for the number of flowers per stem. Plants grown in the greenhouse flowered consistently several weeks earlier and produced more flowers per stem than under natural conditions. Morphological differences in flower shape between ecotypes from Kelach and Kziv Creek were apparent. The variation for flowering traits found in wild populations can be used for breeding purposes.