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Desert Lily

Flower type: Perennial (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This giant flower grows up to 9.3 feet (2.8 meters) tall. Its gray-green stem is very thick and straight, and the small, beige leaves are very thick with smooth edges. Many leaves grow at the base of the stem, and more leaves grow in pairs along the length of the stem.

6 to 9 giant flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 132 cm (52.0 inches) wide, with solid dark brown petals decorated with amber lines and a pale yellow central disk. The flower head is shaped like a bowl with 35 widely spaced, narrow petals. They are very delicate.

It has an intensely strong scent that smells like petrol, and it has an average amount of pollen. It is pollinated by a small species of bird.

It grows well in the sun and full shade.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles
The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.