While the world is counting floors of Dubai’s new Burj Khalifa, I’m reading about the hymenocallis flower, which is cultivated in the Persian Gulf but according to wiki is a genus of plants in the family amaryllidaceae, now cultivated in the Middle East.

Hymenocallis means “beautiful membrane” in Greek, which refers to the staminal corona that connects the stalks of the stamens for a portion of their length.

The New World hymenocallis flower is said to be the chief muse for Dubai’s grand tower the Burj Khalifa.The plants have spectacular flowers and some species are known as spider lilies. The Pacific Bulb Society confirms the New World genus of hymenocallis. It’s believed that the hymenocallis flower traveled to the Middle East from Latin America, Mexico and other parts of the New World.

There’s no doubt that the hymenocallis flower is an inspiration in Islamic art and today’s gardens. But her origins appear to be from another side of the world. Appearances are often deceiving, and mere plant websites may be wrong.