Iris

Iris is Greek for rainbow, and the Iris flower is named as such for the wide variety of colors displayed by the different species. The Iris flower has 3 sepals, which spread out and droop downwards (often referred to as falls), and often have veins, lines or dots. The other 3 petals of the Iris flower stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases and are referred to as standards. Between 200 and 300 different species of Iris, some rather fragrant, typically bloom between early spring and mid-summer, depending on the species.

Jonquil

Jonquil is another common name for Daffodil, primarily used in the southern United States.See the Daffodil entry for detailed information.

Lantana

Lantana flower clusters come in a mix of red, orange, yellow, or blue and white florets and can be quite fragrant. Native to tropical Americas and Africa, the plant has been imported and introduced into many other regions. Known also as Shrub Verbenas, some species of Lantana is invasive and is considered a weed. L. Camara, or Spanish Flag, is the most common species in cultivation today, with several cultivars or hybrids of this species in popular existance, allowing for year-round Lantana blooms.

Larkspur

Larkspur refers to two different genus of plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, Delphinium and Consolida. This entry will describe Larkspur as the genus Consolida.

The difference between Consolida and Delphinum is Consolida flowers are on a loose, open, branched spike, as opposed to the Delphinium, which is a dense column of flowers. Consolida are also Annuals, whereas Delphinium can be annual, biennial or perennial. The colorful Larkspur blooms cover a spectrum of colors from white to blue to violet and are quite poisonous to some animals. Larkspur, as Consolida, is the birthflower of July.

Lily

Lily, while used as and in the common names of many different types of flowers, botanically refers only to plants in the genus Lilium in the family Liliaceae. Any of the 110+ species in this genus are considered the only "true" lilies, and these showy flowers come in a vast amount of color, shape and size varieties through hybrid cultivation. All of the flowers in the species have three petals along with three often-fragrant petal-like sepals with markings such as spots, brush strokes and picotees. Three very commonly known varieties, Asiatic Lily, Oriental Lily and Tiger Lily all belong to this genus.

There are many other flowers that use the name Lily, such as African Lily, Beladonna/Jersey Lily, Blackberry/Leopard Lily, Calla Lily, Daylily, Eucharis/Amazon Lily, Lily of the Valley, Peruvian Lily, and Water Lily. Please click on any of these names to see the entry for those flowers.

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley, known botanically as Convallaria majalis, is native to Europe and Asia in more cool, temperate climates. Each spring, this plant sends up stems that produce between 5 and 15 of these usually white, bell-shaped and downturned flowers. Sweetly scented, the Lily of the Valley is known also as "Our Lady's Tears", from a Christian legend, as well as May Lily and May Bells. This poisonous flower is quite popular, being the subject of much artwork throughout history, as well as being the national flower of Finland and the official flower of several national fraternaties and sororities in the United States and Canada.

Lisianthus

Lisianthus is a very popular cut flower, coming in single and double varieties in a range of colors from blue, purple, pink and white. These flowers have rose-like beauty with their delicate petals and oval leaves, and they have an extended vase life of around 7-10 days. Also commonly referred to as Texas Bluebell Prarie Gentian, Bluebells and Tulip Gentian, these flowers grow wild in the praries of Colorado through Nebraska and down to Texas. These flowers most commonly bloom in the summer.

Lotus

A very unique flower, the Lotus rises from under the mud of ponds and streams to flower at the surface of the water. Each night, the flower closes and sinks underwater, and at dawn, it rises to the surface and opens again. The flowers themselves have 15 or more oval petals with a flat seedcase residing in the center of the flower. The pure white Lotus is an exception, as it is a night-blooming plant, and the only flower that simultaneously flowers and fruits. Throughout history, dating back to ancient Egypt, the Lotus flower has been symbolized by many cultures to represent rebirth, spiritual enlightenment and evolvement. Lotus, not to be confused with the genus of plants with the same name that contains bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches, are aquatic plants that are recongized as part of the Nymphaeaceae (water lily) family by many taxonomists, but there is a shift to move this plant into its own family, Nelumbonaceae.

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