Ismene narcissiflora

Native to south-central Peru, it is a bulb-forming perennial herb of seasonally dry tropical habitats. Its fragrant flowers arise together on a leafless stalk, with narrow, recurving white segments surrounding a green-striped central cup with toothed edges. The bulb survives periods of dormancy underground. The species has also contributed to ornamental breeding: crosses with Ismene amancaes produced cream- to yellow-flowered garden hybrids, including ‘Sulphur Queen’, while crosses with Ismene longipetala produced white-flowered hybrids. Photographed in Ecuador.