Lilium formosanum (Taiwan Lily)

Native to Taiwan, this bulbous perennial grows on grassy slopes and coastal ground. Its upright stems carry scattered, narrow leaves and one or several fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers. The long white tepals have a purple-red tint on their outer surfaces, while the narrow flower tube gradually widens toward the opening. Green nectaries lie near the base of the tepals, and long stamens and a style project within the flower. Elongated capsules develop afterward. Cultivated as an ornamental, it has become naturalized in coastal New South Wales and the Central Tablelands of Australia, often along roadsides. It spreads through bulbs and seeds. All parts, including the pollen, are highly poisonous to cats and can cause fatal kidney failure. Photographed in Colombia.