The three plants known as Lilium macrophyllum, L. Thomsonianum and L. hyacinthinum form a closely allied trio, obviously standing somewhat apart from typical species of the genus Lilium. Each of the three species has been referred at one time or another to the genus Fritillaria, but it has been generally felt that they were even more anomalous amongst fritillaries than they were amongst the lilies. The Swiss botanist Boissier placed L. macrophyllum in a separate genus, Notholirion, employing an old name which had not previously been clearly defined with generic rank, and for some years the advisability or otherwise of adopting Boissier's genus for this species and its two immediate allies has been occupying the minds of botanists. Dr. O. Stapf, just prior to his death, investigated this question and his views are.

Syn. Fritillaria macrophylla D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 51 (1825). Lilium roseum Wallich, Cat. no. 5077/A (1831-32), nomen, et in Herb.; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. VI. 352 (1892), partim. Notholirion roseum Wallich apud Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. 654 (1845). Lilium Hookeri Baker in Gard. Chron. 1871, p. 201. Fritillaria Hookeri Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. XIV. 269 (1874), non Baker in Bot. Mag. CIV. t. 6385 (1878). Lilium macrophyllum Wilson, Lilies of Eastern Asia, 102 (1925); Grove in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, LXXXVI. 487, fig. 226 (1929); Coutts in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, LXXXVII. 455, fig. 197 (1930) et in Roy. Hort. Soc. London, Lily Year-Book, 1932, p. 64, fig. 13; Souillet in Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, XCV. 6 (1934).