Definition

Noun: * A flowering plant: A specific type of ornamental herb native to the Andes mountains, known for its clusters of attractive, lily-like flowers, typically in shades of pinkish-purple.

Usage

This term is used as the common name for a specific plant species (Alstroemeria). It is a proper noun phrase referring to the plant itself. * The garden featured a beautiful border of lily of the incas. * She received a bouquet containing lily of the incas, roses, and ferns.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in horticulture, gardening, and floristry to identify this popular cut flower and garden plant.
• It is synonymous with the more common name "Peruvian lily" or the genus name .

Variants and Related Words

• Peruvian lily: Another common name for the same plant.
• Alstroemeria: The botanical genus name, often used interchangeably in gardening contexts.

Synonyms

• Peruvian lily
• Alstroemeria (when referring to the cultivated varieties of this type)

Notes on Meaning

• The name "lily of the incas" is descriptive, linking the flower's appearance (lily-like) to its geographical and cultural origin (the Inca civilization of the Andes). It does not refer to a true lily (genus ).

Noun

1. an Andean herb having umbels of showy pinkish-purple lily-like flowers