The most southerly Lilium species is L. neilgherrense from the Nilgiri Hills of south-western India, somewhere about 11-12 degrees North of the equator. It is a big-flowered white trumpet species, but I don't know if its is cultivation. Next most southerly is probably L. philippinense from the mountains of north-central Luzon, about 16 deg N. It is pure white with a very long tube to the flower. It is closely related to L. formosanum & like it can flower within the year from seed. It is not very hardy in the UK, as it keeps pushing up new growths, but is very easy in a pot in the greenhouse. The southern Japanese species L. longiflorum, L. nobilissimum & L. alexandrae are also suitable for warm conditions. John Grimshaw Dr John M. Grimshaw Garden Manager, Colesbourne Gardens Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "arnold trachtenberg" <arnold@nj.rr.com> Subject: Re: [pbs] Lilly seeds and bulbs > Jane: > > I can't tell you where I read it but it seems lilies are strictly ( > naturally occurring) a northern hemisphere genus. I would also be > interested in how close to the equator lilies occur naturally. > > Arnold >