Click on any image to open the slideshow
Hymenocallis rotata (Ker Gawl.)Herb.
Spring-run Spiderlily
Streambank Spiderlily
Florida native
Endemic to Florida
A frequent emersed plant of spring-run and adjacent lake margins in the central and north peninsula, plus Wakulla and Jefferson Counties. Also found in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Spring-run spiderlily has deciduous leaves, an ovary that is 15-30mm (~5/8 to 1-1/8 in.) long and 10-15mm (~4/10 to 5/8 in.) wide and a staminal cup that is 6cm (2-1/3 in.) wide or larger. The staminal cup (corona) is a membrane that connects the filaments and differentiates the genus Hymenocallis from the Crinum (Swamplilies) which lack this membrane.
The 3 to 9 leaves of Hymenocallis rotata arch upward or are nearly erect, coriaceous, strongly channeled and deep green with an acute apex. The strap-like leaves are 4-10dm (~16-39 in.) long and usually 2-5cm (3/4 - 2 in.) wide, sometimes slightly wider. The glaucous 2-edged scape is 3.5-7dm (14-28 in.) tall. Two to four flowers open at nearly the same time with a green perianth tube usually 9-12cm (3-1/2 - 4-3/4 in.) long, occasionally shorter. The white tepals are 9-14.5cm (3-1/2 - 5-3/4 in.) long, 7-15mm 93/10 - 6/10 in.) wide and extend nearly horizontally from the base of the corona, with a green stripe along the keel and at the base and apex. The corona (staminal cup) is white with a small yellowish-green proximal eye with two to three prominent lacerate projections along the margin between the filaments. Anthers are 1.5-2cm (~1/2 - 3/4 in.) long. Flowering time is late spring through early summer.
Hymenocallis rotata is a member of the Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis family.
Other species of the Hymenocallis genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Hymenocallis duvalensis - WHITESANDS SPIDERLILY
Hymenocallis gholsonii - GHOLSON'S SPIDERLILY
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jun 20, 2023
