With Hybrids, bulbs all tend to look the same within the groups: Asiatic hybrids, trumpet hybrids, martagon hybrids, oriental hybrids, etc.

But not so with species. Each can have their own individuality that might even be a key characteristic to their identity. Growth patterns are often revealed in underground study, too. I regret to say I have not taken a lot of pics of lily bulbs. It takes some time to stop my bulb planting for a photo op: I need at least cleanish hands, good background, a hand sprayer to gently wash the dirt off, etc. But I have gotten a few interesting pics.

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Fairly typical of trumpet types,
Lilium Leucanthemum

Somewhat similar is
Lilium majoense

This is typical of the martagon section of lily species. These species are Ll. hansonii, martagon, medioloides, distichum, tsingtauense. Bulbs have long narrow scales that can be broken off more easily if not gently handled.

This is a natural hybrid whthin the martagon section involving Lilium tsingtauense.

Now that I have said that narrow scales are the norm, this is an unusual clone I found in a seedling lot of Lilium martagon. I have to say, though, that I have yet to see it bloom, so its identity is a little in question.

Nice bulb pictures Lefty. They show the very contrasting images of the lilium bulbs too. Having replanted some of those narrower scaled ones, I would agree that they are much more fragile when digging. But then I'm the one, no matter how wide and deep I dig, that always ends up splitting something up that was unintentional, like right through the middle.

A great example of how some stoloniferous bulbs can seek their proper depth in the soil. The original little seedling bulb from last season is at the top. This season it sent out two stolons terminating in bulbs. "Up" is up in the pic, "down" is down in the pic. The structure looks like the photo was taken at an angle because the lower section is larger, but no. The plant lays flat on the soil with the camera directly above. These types of bulbs must also be handled gently. Stolons and bulbs scales are brittle.

Lilium michiganense

These are seedling bulbs of Lilium canadense. Also stoloniferous, but less so. I erred in bulb arrangement in the photo, which is why the arrows are there. They point to the original bulb from last season, and there is a very short stolon (stem) from them to this season's bulb. The real reason for the arrows is to show the direction of down, relative to each bulb (also indicated by the root growth). The graph paper squares are 1/8 inch.

Lilium canadense seedling bulbs

These look more like the today's asiatic hybrid bulbs. And they should.
Lilium dauricum is a common ancestor in asiatic breeding.

Very nice photo study.

Great pics. Wonderful resource to have on this cubit. Thanks Rick!

Here you can easily distinguish last season's scales (loose, outer, yellow/maroon) from this season's (tight, inner, whitish). This is a species trumpet lily, hence its resemblance to trumpet hybrid bulbs.

Lilium sargentiae

Some lily bulbs can be so beautiful. This one especially so with its pure white and lemon yellow colors. I should have rinsed it off and made it all pretty. If only you could see it in person...

Lilium philippinense

That is devotion. I learn so much from this cubit.

Lilium szovitsianum

For species bulb, it is quite hefty...

Wow! Just get it, or did you dig it up yourself? Makes me lick my chops.

i educated a person today[regarding martagons] by ''the law according to Rick''--they were grateful!!

Moby, I bought Lilium szovitsianum as a dinky two year old seedling in 2004 mail order (Arrowhead Alpines). The two bulbs pictured came from the one original plant. I am not sure when it had split off another nose, but it had been sending up two sprouts for a few years now. If you look at the open spot on the left side of the big bulb, you can kinda see where another nose has been developing for at least two seasons, although it is has not sent up a sprout yet.

Moby said:Makes me lick my chops.

I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind to sample a scale. (I know that's probably not what you meant, though.) But I didn't.These bulbs "look" a little woody, and just aren't as enticing as the lighter colored ones.

Woodiness is next to godliness. Your toothy grin suggests you've not underestimated the value of oral hygiene.

Lilium mackliniae - this bulb is about 4cm (1.5 inches) in diameter.



As I have been doing a lot of lily bulb planting of late, I am finding that, especially with the seed grown bulbs planted in pots, a lot of them (not just mackliniae) have really big root systems.

Lilium oxypetalum var. insigne - these bulbs are about 5cm (2 inches) tall.
The scales are very wedge-like.



The mass of roots belong to the bulb on the left. It must have been the one that bloomed this season.