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19.4.07

"Lily limp"

Last night I had the chance to watch the documentary First Flower, that aired Tuesday on PBS. I was reminded of the story of English botanist Ernest Henry Wilson. Wilson is credited with discovering Lilium regale while on a trip to China sponsored by the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts. While collecting Lily bulbs Wilson's expedition was hit by a landslide and his leg was broken by a boulder. He splinted his leg and was about to make his way out of the area when a mule train came down the narrow path they were using. Not being able to move Wilson decided to lay on the ground and hope that the 50 mules would step over him.