Shirui Lily or Siroi Lily is a flower, which has been traced in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. More specifically, the flower grows only in the upper reaches of the Siroi Hill ranges. Here, the lily has been traced at an elevation ranging from about 1,730 m to 2,590 m (5,680-8,500 ft) above mean sea level. Its botanical name is Lilium Mackliniae. It is important to note that researchers and scientists tried to transplant Shirui Lily in other parts of the world, but are known to fail in their efforts. The failure to transplant Shirui Lily made it popular. Shirui Lily has been declared as the "state flower of Manipur".
Discovery of Shirui Lily
A person named Frank Kingdon-Ward is credited with the discovery of Shirui Lily in the year 1946. In 1946, Frank arrived in Manipur for a botanical research, along with his wife. When Frank discovered Siroi Lily, he named it after his wife, Jean Macklin. In a flower show in London, the merit prize of the 1948 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is known to be won by Shirui Lily.
Characteristics of Shirui Lily
Shirui Lily is a seasonal flower, which grows naturally. The height of a Shirui Lily plant ranges from about 1 to 3 ft. In one such plant, one to seven flowers bloom. But mostly a few flowers are noticed on one stem. The leaves of the plant are long and narrow. The flower has bell shaped petals, which are pale bluish-pink in color. This flower is shade tolerant, that is, it grows in shade. The flower is known to bloom between the months of May and June in India. More specifically, May 15 to June 5 is considered to be the peak blooming season for Shirui Lily. The flower hangs downwards and is therefore compared to a modest and shy girl. Shirui Lily is an endangered flower species in India. With an aim to create awareness about Shirui Lily, Shajin Jinks, the head of the Department of Environment and Heritage of Goa, led an expedition to the Shiroi Hills on 13th of October, 2013. To memorialize the rare Shirui Lily, a postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department.