Lilly

Genus: Liliaceae

The lily family includes a tremendous number - about 4,000 species - of ornamental flowers including the ever popular true lily, spider lily, star lily, calla lily, day lily, daffodil, tulip, and hyacinth, as well as many exotic varieties found in the wild. The lily family also includes a number of crucial agricultural crops including garlic, onion, leek, chives, and asparagus. Surprisingly, the lily genus also includes several succulent plants such as aloe vera.

Plants in the lily family grow from underground rhizomes, tubers, or bulbs. They produce straight stems with linear parallel grass-like leaves and flowers which bloom at the very tips of the stems. Lily flowers have an elegant and regal shape, consisting of three or six pointed pedals curling upward or outward, exposing three or six thin stamen. The most popular color of lily is creamy white, often tinged pink.

With their regal and elegant presentation, lilies are perfectly suited for special occasion such as birthdays, weddings, the celebration of a new baby, and expressions of sympathy.

Lilies have been cultivated for over 3,000 years and have a long and storied history across the globe. In China, the lily means "forever in love" and in Feng Shui, the lily is a symbol of summer and abundance. In biblical history, the "lilies of the field" are thought to refer specifically to the Madonna lily and the lily still symbolizes pure, virginal love in Christianity. The lily was also acknowledged as a holy flower of the ancient Assyrians. In Greek poetry, the lily represents tenderness. One Greek myth describes how the lily was born from the milk of the goddess Hera.

Plants and flowers in the lily family are also known for their medicinal and protective qualities. In China, some lilies were used as lucky charms and some were thought to avert the evil eye. In Europe, lilies have a long history of being used as a remedy against a wide range of diseases and ailments. The juice of the aloe vera leaf, also of the lily family, is a recognized for its soothing, antiseptic qualities and can be found in a great number of medicinal as well as beauty and cosmetic products.