Note: There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North
Temperate zone. {Lilium candidum} and {L. longiflorum}
are the common white lilies of gardens; {L.
Philadelphicum} is the wild red lily of the Atlantic
States; {L. Chalcedonicum} is supposed to be the ``lily
of the field'' in our Lord's parable; {L. auratum} is
the great gold-banded lily of Japan.
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.
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.
But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.
--Sir T.
Browne.
{African lily} (Bot.), the blue-flowered {Agapanthus
umbellatus}.
{Atamasco lily} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Zephyranthes}
({Z. 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.