Desert Lily

This average-sized flower grows up to 9 inches (23 cm) tall. Its moss green stems grow in bunches of 5 and are thick and straight, and the large, orange-yellow leaves are fan-like with smooth edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves alternate on the stem from about halfway up, up to the flower head.

Dozens of tiny flowers grow in bunches along the stem. The flowers are 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide, with petals that are olive on the edges and silver at the center. The flower head is shaped like a cup made up of 18 tightly layered, round-tipped petals. They detach easily.

It has an intense scent that smells like coconut, and it has a fair amount of pollen; it can cause severe allergic reactions. It is pollinated by a small species of bird, but is also particularly attractive to insects.