The New Taipei City Government yesterday showcased the results of a project to re-establish fairy lilies in Pingsi District (平溪), inviting the public to protect the indigenous and endangered species known as “slope fairies.”
Also dubbed “angel wings,” the lilies’ petals are wave-shaped with red dots, but their beauty led to over-harvesting in the past, the Agriculture Department said.
The fairy lily is listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Photo: Lin Hsin-han, Taipei Times
The flower, which grows on south-facing slopes at an altitude of 200m to 600m and blooms in August and September, can often be found among reeds and silver grasses, the department said.
Fairy lilies used to be everywhere in the hilly Pingsi District said local resident Lin Rui-chi (林瑞祺), who has joined the department’s efforts to re-establish the species.
How they blossom is special, he said, because their petals unfold one by one and curl back when in full bloom.
Local people have an emotional attachment to the flower, as how it grows suggests humility, department Director-General Lee Wen (李玟) said.
Since 2016, the department has invited local households to participate in a program to re-establish the fairy lily, Lee said.
Some of the seeds they planted are blossoming, he said, adding that nearly 6,500 fairy lilies can be seen across the city.
The Taoyuan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station provides the program with technical help, he added.
People should avoid picking or destroying flowers when appreciating their beauty, Lee said, adding that the department aims to rally more local support for wild lilies.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
Instead of threatening tariffs on Taiwan-made chips, the US should try to reinforce cooperation with Taiwan on semiconductor development to take on challenges from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a Taiwanese think tank said. The administration of US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board import duties of 32 percent on Taiwan-made goods and levy a separate tariff on semiconductors, which Taiwan is hoping to avoid. The Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET), a National Science and Technology Council think tank, said that US efforts should focus on containing China’s semiconductor rise rather than impairing Taiwan. “Without
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
RSS