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Hemerocallis Species Fruits

von Dr. Jürg Plodeck
published by Hemerocallis Europa in:
Hemerocallis Letter, vol. 11 #2, April-June 2005, p. 6-19 (incl. colour picture page)

This article is divided into the following sections:

 Introduction

When one hears the word "Fruit", one first thinks on apple, cherries, strawberries etc., i.e. on the fruits that can be eaten. A daylily hybridiser may also think on daylily fruits, but mainly concerning the seeds inside of it, which may result in new breakthroughs in daylily hybridisation.
If a daylily hybridiser is asked, if he can determine from which daylily a fruit comes from, he normally shakes his head and says: "The fruits are all pretty much the same, only fruits from tetraploids are broader than those of the diploids; so one can give a good guess if the fruit comes from a diploid or a tetraploid plant."
Looking at the fruits of the daylily species one can find in the literature different descriptions. But the longer back one goes in the literature the fewer fruit descriptions can be found. Most species first descriptions published before 1900 have actually no descriptions of the fruits. Sometimes it is mentioned that the fruits are unknown.
Further below are all the fruit descriptions cited which were found in the first descriptions as well as of A.B. Stout’s Addisonia publications and of S.-Y. Hu’s article in the Daylily Handbook of 1968. Other fruit descriptions like e.g. those of W. Erhardt’s book were not included as they were mainly based on S.-Y. Hu’s article (but converted from inch to cm). The descriptions were normally written in English, but if not then the Latin original description is added just below (the original unit of measurement was kept, but in the table 2 below it is converted in centimetre).

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 Fruit Descriptions (for first descriptions the species name is in bold)

H. altissima [A.B. Stout, Herbertia, 1942, vol.9, p.103-106]
There is considerable variation in the size and shape of the capsules borne by different plants. Well-developed capsules characteristic of different plants have ranged from one inch (2.5cm) to one and one-half inches (3.8cm) in length, and for some plants the shape is oval with a rounded apex while for others the apex is truncated.

H. altissima [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.90]
Capsules widest at summit, immature ones 7/8 in. long (2.2cm), 3/4 in. in diameter (1.9cm).

H. aurantiaca [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.25-26 + plate 461]
The largest of the capsules obtained by cross-pollination are nearly two inches long (5cm) and one inch in greatest diameter (2.5cm), oval in outline, broadly grooved along the median line of each valve, obtuse and slightly indented at the apex.

H. aurantiaca [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.91]
Capsules oblong, about 1.75 in. long (4.4cm), about 1 in. wide (2.5cm), obtuse at the apex.

H. citrina [E. Baroni, Ricerche Mus. Ort. Bot. Firenze, 1897, p.143-147 + plate 9]
Capsule leathery, trigonal, valve rugose, 2 1/3 - 3 cm long, 1 cm wide
( Capsula coriacea, trigona, valvis rugosis, 2 1/3 - 3 cm. longis, 1 cm latis )

H. citrina [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1930, p.3-4 + plate 482]
The capsules are usually about one inch in length (2.5cm), obovate, deeply and sharply grooved, indented and purplish at the apex.

H. citrina [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.93]
Capsules 3-lobed, obovoid, 1-1.25 in. long (2.5-3.2cm), obtuse and notched at the rounded tip.

H. vespertina [H. Hara, The Journal of Japanese Botany, 1941, vol.17#3, p.119-129 (p.127-128)]
Capsule obovate, at the base abruptly narrowed, nearly 2.5cm long, transverse conspicuously veined rather regularly.
( Capsulae obovatae basi abrupte angustatae ad 2.5 cm longae transverse venoso-regulosae )

H. coreana [T. Nakai, Bot. Mag. Tokyo, 1932, vol.46, p.111-123]
Capsule appearance rugose-nervose apically emarginate 18 mm long 13 mm wide
( Capsula facie rugoso-nervosa apice emarginata 18 mm. longa 13 mm. lata )

H. coreana [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.94]
Capsules ca. 1 in. long (2.5cm), 0.25 in. across (0.6cm), rugose, nervose, apical end emarginate.
(Mrs. Hu states that this is the English translation of Nakai’s original description, which is cited above)

H. dumortieri [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.27-28 + plate 462]
When well filled with seeds the capsules are slightly more than an inch in length (2.5cm), decidedly globose in shape, slightly grooved, and somewhat depressed at the apex.

H. dumortieri [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.94]
Capsules subglobose, ca, 1 in. long (2.5cm), 0.75 in. diameter (1.9cm).

H. esculenta [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.95]
Capsules oblong, about 1 in. long (2.5cm), truncate and notched at the rounded tip.

H. exaltata [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1934, p.37-38 + plate 595]
The capsule is elliptic in longitudinal outline, about 4 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, and corrugated with numerous short ridges.

H. exaltata [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.96]
Capsules ellipsoid, 1.5 in. long (3.8cm), 0.875 in. in diameter (2.2cm), obtuse at the tip, corrugated with numerous short ridges.

H. forrestii [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.97]
Capsules oblong 1.5 in. long (3.8cm), 0.75 in. in diameter (1.9cm), obtuse at the tip, slightly rugose.

H. fulva [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.97]
Capsules oblong, 1.25 in. long (3.2cm), 0.75 in. in diameter (1.9cm), tip truncate, often notched, with a short stipe at base.

H. fulva 'Maculata' [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.23-24 + plate 460]
The capsule (obtained only by cross-pollination) is broadly obovate, the apex broadly truncate and indented. The median line of each valve is somewhat sharply and deeply grooved and the groove between the valves is sharp and narrow. In shape, size and general character the capsule is typical for the cultivated H. fulva (capsules obtained by cross-pollination) and for many of the wild plants of this species or of the types named H. disticha and H. longituba.

H. fulva 'Maculata' [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.99]
Capsules obovoid-oblong, tip truncate and notched.

H. fulva var. littorea [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.104]
Capsules oblong, 13/16-1.125 in. long (2.1-2.9 cm), horizontally ribbed.

H. fulva var. longituba [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1930, p.5-6 + plate 483]
The capsules of all the wild varieties and of the cultivated clons of the species H. fulva are very similar in shape and size, being rather broadly obovate, with the apex truncate and indented. The median line of each valve is deeply grooved and the groove between the valve is sharp and narrow. The capsule shown in Plate 483 was not fully ripe and is hence not of full size; the one shown in Plate 484 was fully ripe and plump and it contained seeds.

H. fulva var. oppositibracteata [H. Kong. & C.R: Wang, Guihaia, 1996, vol.16(#4), p.303-304, fig.1]
Capsule obovate with 3 vertical notches (translated from Chinese text)

H. fulva var. rosea [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.100]
Capsules oblong, 1.25 in. long (3.2cm), 0.75 in. diameter (1.9cm), tip subtruncate.

H. hakuunensis [T. Nakai, Journal of Japanese Botany, 1943, vol.19, p.312-319]
Capsule round-elliptic, top elevated-3-lobed, horizontally rugose, 20 mm long, 14 mm wide.
( Capsula rotundato-ellipsoidea apice elevato-3-lobata horizontali-rugosa 20 mm longa 14 mm lata. )

H. hakuunensis [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.102]
Capsules broadly ellipsoid, 1 in. long (2.54cm), 0.75 in. in diameter (1.9cm), the tip with three elevated lobes, horizontally roughened.

H. hakuunensis [S.S. Kang & M.G. Chung, Sida, 1994, vol.16#1, p.23-31]
Capsule usually oblong-oval, 2.0-2.5 cm long and 1.1-1.5 cm wide cross-wrinkled when dried, surface usually covered with wart-like projections, apex emarginated;

H. hongdoensis [M.G. Chung & S.S. Kang, Novon, 1994, vol.4, p.94-97]
Capsule somewhat large, 2.5-4.1 cm long, 1.7-2.5 cm wide, usually oblong-oval, rarely roundish, cross-wrinkled when dried, surface usually covered with wartlike projections, apex emarginate

H. lilioasphodelus [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.17-18 + plate 457]
The capsule is three-celled, loculicidal, broadly elliptic in vertical outline, in median cross-section almost triangular, broadly and slightly grooved along the median line of each valve, and sharply but very shallowly-grooved along the lines of juncture between valves, the six grooves meeting at the apex in a slight indentation. The capsules measure as much as one and three-fourths inches long (4.4cm) by one and one-fourth inches in diameter (3.2cm).

H. lilioasphodelus [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.102]
Capsules ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.75-1.25 in. long (1.9-3.2cm), apiculate with persistent base of style, pericarp often tuberculate, cross-wrinkled when dry.

H. middendorffii [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.29-30 + plate 463]
The capsules of H. Middendorffii are in general shape most similar to those of H. flava and H. minor.

H. middendorffii [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.105]
Capsules broadly ellipsoid, 1-1.25 in. long (2.5-3.2cm), 13/16 - 1 in. in diameter (2.0-2.5cm), corrugated with lateral ridges.

H. middendorffii var. longibracteata [Z. Xiong, Bulletin of Botanical Research, 1993, vol.13, no.2, p.122-123]
Capsule ellipsoid, shape obtuse triangular, 1.5cm long
( Capsulae ellipsoideae, facie obtuse triangulae, 1.5 cm longae )

H. minor [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.19-20 + plate 458]
The capsule is narrow-elliptic in outline, somewhat triangular in cross mid-section, broadly grooved along the middle of each valve, and averaging one and one-half inches in length (3.8cm) and usually not as much as one inch (2.5cm) in greatest diameter. The capsule is slightly more deeply and much more narrowly grooved than the capsule of H. flava.

H. minor [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.107]
Capsules ellipsoid, 1 5/16 in. long (3.3cm), 0.5-0.625 in. in diameter (1.3-1.6cm).

H. multiflora [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.31-32 + plate 464]
The capsules are seldom more than an inch in length (2.5cm), slightly ovoid as in the Plate or are more obovoid. The capsules are similar to those of H. thunbergii but are smaller and usually more grooved toward the apex.

H. multiflora [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.107]
Capsules ovoid-oblong or obovoid, barely 1 in. long (2.5cm), 0.5 in. diameter (1.3cm).

H. nana [W.W. Smith & G. Forrest, Not. Bot. Gard. Edinb., 1916, vol.10, p.39]
Immature fruit in a dry state 1.5 cm long, around 1 cm broad.
( Fructus immaturus in sicco 1.5 cm. longus, circ. 1 cm. latus. )

H. nana [O. Stapf, Bot. Mag., 1923, vol.148, plate 8968]
The capsule is oblong, slightly widened upwards and 3 cm. long.

H. plicata [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.109]
Capsules oblong, 0.75 in. long (1.9cm), 0.375 in. wide (1.0cm), tip truncate and sharp-pointed.

H. taeanensis [S.S. Kang & M.G. Chung, Systematic Botany, 1997, vol.22#3, p.427-431]
Capsule somewhat small, usually roundish, rarely oblong-oval, surface usually smooth or covered with wart-lake projections, apex emarginate, 1.0-2.0 (mean 1.5) cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide

H. thunbergii [A.B. Stout, Addisonia, 1929, p.21-22 + plate 459]
The capsule is about one and one-half inches long (3.8cm), about three-fourths inch (1.9cm) in greatest diameter, broadly blunt and almost truncate at the apex.

H. thunbergii [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.109]
Capsules obovoid, 1-1.5 in. long (2.5-3.8cm), 0.875 in. in diameter (2.2cm), truncate and notched at the rounded tip, abruptly narrowed at the base.

H. yezoensis [H. Hara, The Journal of Japanese Botany, 1938, vol.14#8, p.520-521]
Capsule oblong somewhat smooth or rugose.

H. yezoensis [S.-Y. Hu, Daylily Handbook, 1968, p.111]
Capsules oblong, rugose.

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 Extreme Fruit Sizes/Ratios

From the above descriptions it is obvious that there are many things in common in all the Hemerocallis species fruits. All consist normally out of 3 compartments (this also applies to Hemerocallis hybrids except if they are polypetals; i.e. it is half of the numbers of tepals). They are more or less obovate and most are truncate and notched at the rounded tip; seldom sharp-pointed.
However there are also differences mainly in shape, surface and size.
Concerning shape there are a few that get steadily narrower towards the apex and end in a real tip. This is the case on one clone of H. esculenta but another clone does not show that. Mostly the tip is truncate and sharp-pointed. Sometimes the fruit is truncate and indented, i.e. no sharp point in the middle. But this can vary even within the same species as this is the rudiment of the style.
The surface is sometimes rather smooth and glossy like e.g. for H. lilioasphodelus and H. esculenta or it is warty and dull like e.g. for H. minor and H. middendorffii.

In size my own experience with the fruits I have seen, can be summarized like this (table 1; does not include all existing Hemerocallis species):

  • H. yezoensis has the largest ratio of length to width (3.0:1)
  • H. lilioasphodelus has the smallest ratio of length to width (1.31:1)
  • H. lilioasphodelus has the widest fruits (2.0cm wide)
  • H. ??? followed by H. minor and H. aurantiaca have the longest fruits (3.5-3.7cm long)
  • H. multiflora has the smallest fruits (1.3cm long) [so far no H. taeanensis plant in my collection]
  • H. multiflora has the most narrow fruits (0.8cm wide) [so far no H. taeanensis plant in my collection]

Concerning size the literature information listed in this article can be summarized like this (table 2; does not include all existing Hemerocallis species as for some there is no information available):

  • H. citrina has the largest ratio of length to width (2.65:1) [no size information in literature for H. yezoensis]
  • H. lilioasphodelus has the smallest ratio of length to width (1.375:1)
  • H. lilioasphodelus has the widest fruits (3.2cm wide)
  • H. aurantiaca has the longest fruits (5.0cm long)
  • H. taeanensis has the smallest fruits (1.0cm long but can be up to 2.0cm)
  • H. taeanensis has the most narrow fruits (0.8cm wide but can be up to 1.2cm)

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 Tabular Overview of the Fruit Sizes

 own measurements (with colour pictures; clicking on picture will enlarge it)
H. altissima Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. altissima H157 3.0 1.1 2.73:1
H. aurantiaca
← H. aurantiaca H276 3.5 1.8 1.94:1
H. citrina
H. citrina H191 2.4 1.3 1.85:1
H. esculenta
Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. esculenta H148 2.5 – 2.6 1.6 1.6:1
H. esculenta
← H. esculenta H275 2.2 1.7 1.29:1
H. exaltata
H. exaltata H469      
H. fulva var. littorea
Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. fulva var. littorea H258 2.6 – 2.7 1.2 – 1.3 2.1:1
H. hakuunensis
← H. hakuunensis H175 2.5 1.0 2.5:1
H. lilioasphodelus
H. lilioasphodelus H232 2.5 – 2.6 1.9 – 2.0 1.31:1
H. middendorffii
Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. middendorffii H151 2.5 1.5 1.67:1
H. middendorffii
← H. middendorffii H336 3.0 1.7 1.76:1
H. minor
H. minor H183 3.2 – 3.5 1.4 – 1.5 2.3:1
H. minor
Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. minor H326      
H. multiflora
← H. multiflora H185 1.3 0.8 1.62:1
H. thunbergii
H. thunbergii H328 2.6 – 3.3 1.3 – 1.7 2.0:1
H. yezoensis
Species Name Coll.
No. 		Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
←       H. yezoensis H445 3.0 1.0 3.0:1
H. ???
← H. ??? H266
H338 		3.2 – 3.7 1.4 – 1.6 2.3:1
Table 1: List of species pictured in this article incl. collection no. and its fruit sizes

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 Information from Literature
Species Name
(First Descriptions in bold) 		Author, Year Length
in cm 		Width
in cm 		Ratio
Length/Width
H. altissima Stout, 1942 2.5 - 3.8    
H. altissima Hu, 1968 2.2 1.9 1.15
H. aurantiaca Stout, 1929 5.0 2.5 2.0:1
H. aurantiaca Hu, 1968 4.4 2.5 1.76:1
H. citrina Baroni, 1897 2.3 – 3.0 1.0 2.65:1
H. citrina Stout, 1930 2.5    
H. citrina Hu, 1968 2.5 – 3.2    
H. citrina var. vespertina Hara, 1941 2.5    
H. coreana Nakai, 1932 1.8 1.3 1.38:1
H. coreana Hu, 1968 2.5 0.6 4.12:1
H. dumortieri Stout, 1929 2.5    
H. dumortieri Hu, 1968 2.5 1.9 1.3:1
H. esculenta Hu, 1968 2.5    
H. exaltata Stout, 1934 4.0 2.0 2.0:1
H. exaltata Hu, 1968 3.8 2.2 1.73:1
H. forrestii Hu, 1968 3.8 1.9 2.0:1
H. fulva Hu, 1968 3.2 1.9 1.68:1
H. fulva var. littorea Hu, 1968 2.1-2.9    
H. fulva var. rosea Hu, 1968 3.2 1.9 1.68:1
H. hakuunensis Nakai, 1943 2.0 1.4 1.43:1
H. hakuunensis Hu, 1968 2.5 1.9 1.3:1
H. hakuunensis Kang & Chung, 1994 2.0 – 2.5 1.1 – 1.5 1.73:1
H. hongdoensis Chung & Kang, 1994 2.5 – 4.1 1.7 – 2.5 1.55:1
H. lilioasphodelus Stout, 1929 4.4 3.2 1.375:1
H. lilioasphodelus Hu, 1968 1.9-3.2    
H. middendorffii Hu, 1968 2.5-3.2 2.1-2.5 1.19:1 – 1.28:1
H. middendorffii var. longibracteata Xiong, 1993 1.5    
H. minor Stout, 1929 3.8 < 2.5  
H. minor Hu, 1968 3.3 1.3-1.6 2.0:1 - 2.5:1
H. multiflora Stout, 1929 < 2.54    
H. multiflora Hu, 1968 2.5 1.25 2.0:1
H. nana Smith & Forrest, 1916 1.5 1.0 1.5:1
H. nana Stapf, 1923 3.0    
H. plicata Hu, 1968 1.9 0.95 2.0:1
H. taeanensis Kang & Chung, 1997 1.0-2.0 0.8 – 1.2 1.5:1
H. thunbergii Stout, 1929 3.8 1.9 2.0:1
H. thunbergii Hu, 1968 2.5-3.8 2.2 1.1:1 – 1.7:1
Table 2: Summary of the above cited fruit descriptions (all converted to cm); only the ones with size information are listed

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© Copyright   Dr. Jürg Plodeck , 2005