The Lofty Lily

The Lofty Lily

Striking!  …It’s the word that can be used to describe this plant in the  landscape—and it seems the naming botanist agreed, as the species name  (excelsa) means “lofty” or “distinguished”.

For  part of the year the Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is a reedy bush  with sword-like leaves, but then it sends up a single stalk that can  reach up to 20 feet, with a large crown of large scarlet red flowers.

The  sending up of the stalk, resulting in flowering and later seeds, spans  the winter months through late summer. Due to their striking appearance  and hardy nature they are popular in Australian gardens.

Not  surprisingly, this plant didn’t escape the attention of the Aboriginal  Australians. The root, young flower stem and red flowers have been  consumed by the Aboriginal Australians: young stems are roasted and  eaten, while the roots are also roasted and made into a sort of cake.

The leaves have also been traditionally used to provide a fiber for making brushes and matts.

As  a flower essence, Gymea Lily is used for people who may have dominating  personalities, especially with excessive pride and arrogance. It is  used to help them stay ahead of their peers while also finding humility,  noticing others, and allowing others to contribute.

The  Gymea Lily has an Aboriginal origin story that is so sad I don’t want  to recount it, but suffice to say that the Gymea Lily arose through the  death of a lot of people to nurse back to health a chief who had been  their only chance of survival.

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Background image by Kateryna Sosna
*This  content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not  intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice  or treatment from a personal physician.

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