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Lilium

Flora
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The botanical genus for lilies, known for large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers.

Detailed Definition
Lilium encompasses many lily species revered across cultures for their elegance and symbolism. In poetry, lilies represent purity, resurrection, and divine beauty—often associated with the Virgin Mary in Christian verse. Their stately form and intoxicating scent lend them to meditations on mortality, transcendence, and spiritual aspiration.
Example
Example in poetry:
Lilium (lily genus) appears in classical poetry as purity symbol: “Lilium candidum—Madonna’s flower”; In Song of Songs, it’s beloved’s beauty: “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys”; Modern poets admire its trumpet shape: “Lilium calls the hawk-moth at dusk”; In love verse, it’s elegant passion: “Your touch—lilium, cool and deep”; In eco-poetry, native lilies feed butterflies; In sensory poetry, its scent is heady: “Lilium perfume—almost too much, like truth.”
Additional Notes
Lilium is the botanical genus for true lilies; see ID 16087 for symbolic context—purity, resurrection, and majesty; in Christian art, the Madonna Lily signifies virginity; in poetry, lilies often contrast with roses (spirit vs. passion); note toxicity to cats for subtle ecological notes.
Also Known As
True Lily Oriental Lily Asiatic Lily (depending on species) Lily
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