African lily

Lily Lil"y (l[i^]l"[y^]), n.; pl. {Lilies} (l[i^]l"[i^]z). [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. lei`rion. Cf. {Flower-de-luce}.] 1. (Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus {Lilium}, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three-celled ovary. [1913 Webster]

Note: There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. {Lilium candidum} and {Lilium longiflorum} are the common white lilies of gardens; {Lilium Philadelphicum} is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States. {Lilium Chalcedonicum} is supposed to be the ``lily of the field'' in our Lord's parable; {Lilium auratum} is the great gold-banded lily of Japan. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as {Pancratium}, {Crinum}, {Amaryllis}, {Nerine}, etc. [1913 Webster]

3. That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; -- so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis. [1913 Webster]

But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

4. (Auction Bridge) A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See {Royal spade}, below. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{African lily} (Bot.), the blue-flowered {Agapanthus umbellatus}.

{Atamasco lily} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Zephyranthes} ({Zephyranthes Atamasco}), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. --Gray.

{Blackberry lily} (Bot.), the {Pardanthus Chinensis}, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry.

{Bourbon lily} (Bot.), {Lilium candidum}. See Illust.

{Butterfly lily}. (Bot.) Same as {Mariposa lily}, in the Vocabulary.

{Lily beetle} (Zool.), a European beetle ({Crioceris merdigera}) which feeds upon the white lily.

{Lily daffodil} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Narcissus}, and its flower.

{Lily encrinite} (Paleon.), a fossil encrinite, esp. {Encrinus liliiformis}. See {Encrinite}.

{Lily hyacinth} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Hyacinthus}.

{Lily iron}, a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish.

{Lily of the valley} (Bot.), a low perennial herb ({Convallaria majalis}), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers.

{Lily pad}, the large floating leaf of the water lily. [U. S.] --Lowell.

{Tiger lily} (Bot.), {Lilium tigrinum}, the sepals of which are blotched with black.

{Turk's-cap lily} (Bot.) {Lilium Martagon}, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, {Lilium superbum}.

{Water lily} (Bot.), the {Nymph[ae]a}, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of {Nymph[ae]a}.] [1913 Webster]