Gray's Lily

Description:

These rare lilies only grow on the Appalachian Balds and a few other areas in the Southern Appalachians and don't occur anywhere else in the world. They are listed as "vulnerable" globally because of their restricted range, and endangered in Tennessee and a "species of concern" federally in the US. They were named after Asa Gray, one of America's most famous 19th century botanists. After getting some tips from the naturalists on Grandfather Mountain, I was able to find a few of them. It was a stormy day and had just rained heavily with the sun breaking through the clouds again, making the flowers glow and glitter in the forest. Luckily they were growing close enough to the trail to zoom in for pictures.