Desert Starflower

This colossal flower grows up to 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) tall. Its orange stem is wispy, and the tiny, gray-green leaves are long, narrow with tattered edges. The leaves alternate on the stem.

Each stem splits 6 to 12 times; a single giant flower grows at the end of each split. The flowers are 59 cm (23.2 inches) wide, with solid dark brown petals decorated with purple lines and a azure central disk. The flower head is made up of 53 petals; the lower layer of petals are flat, while the upper layers form a tight star. They are very delicate.

It has a scent that varies in strength that smells like cigarette smoke, and it has very little pollen, but can cause allergic reactions. It is a self-pollinator, but is also visited by one species of insect in particular.