New Taipei City: Endangered Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides enters blooming season, restoration flowers bloom along Lingjiao Road

The Taiwan endemic Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides is native to the Pingxi District area of New Taipei City. Because of its unique and beautiful flower shape and high economic value, it was over-picked by people in the early days, causing its wild population to gradually disappear. According to the assessment results of the Red List of Vascular Plants of Taiwan published in 2017, Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides was rated as a nationally critically endangered plant. In recent years, the New Taipei City Agriculture Department has actively promoted local restoration, hoping to bring back the sight of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides in its native Pingxi and to let more people discover the charm of Taiwan's native flowers.

Every year from August to September is the blooming season of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides. The flowers have a white base set off by red spots, and the edges of the tepals are wavy and strongly recurved, making them distinctive and easy to identify. The New Taipei City Agriculture Department stated that in view of the increasingly difficult search for wild populations of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides, and in order to help residents become more familiar with and closer to it, since 2014 it has encouraged communities and schools to participate through promotional lectures and seedling allocation for restoration and environmental beautification. For example, last year (2017), the "Lingjiao Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides Road" was created, and recently flower buds have been blooming one after another. In addition, the results of residents' restoration can also be seen at Lingyan Temple, Zidong Community, and Pingxi Elementary School. In the future, there are plans to continue expanding to the old street commercial district, so that tourists can more easily catch a glimpse of the elegance of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides.

Li Wen, Director of the New Taipei City Agriculture Department, stated that Pingxi has a uniquely advantaged ecology and cultural landscape, and that natural scenery and historical sites interweave to create distinctive local characteristics. The public is encouraged to visit during August, the blooming season of Lilium speciosum var. gloriosoides, to admire the flowers, and also to take a small trip to this mountain town that combines intellectual and emotional experiences, and together feel the ever-changing charm of rural New Taipei.