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Gymea Lilly Doryanthes excelsa
Doryanthes excelsa, is commonly known as the Gymea Lily and is a flowering plant native to coastal areas of New South Wales, near Sydney. It has sword-like leaves more than 1 metre long and it grows a flower spike up to 6 metres high.
The top of the spike bears a large cluster of bright red flowers, each 10 centimetres (4 in) across.
Its common name is from the Dharawal language and comes from their name kai’mia. ​
Photo R Miller
​Aboriginal people roasted the young stems of Gymea Lily to eat. They also roasted the roots to make a kind of bread. Fibres from the leaves were stripped and used for making brushes and matting.
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