Not firmly dated
Still common
Definition
A giant native flowering plant (Doryanthes excelsa) of the Sydney sandstone basin, producing a spectacular floral spike up to six metres tall topped by deep crimson blossoms.
ð· See It
Where "Gymea Lily" Comes From
Photo by Rexness, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
"Gymea" comes from Dharawal (kai'mia), the Aboriginal language of the coastal region south of Sydney.
Indigenous peoples roasted the young flowering stems and roots for food, with the roots prepared as a cake-like food. Fibres from the leaves were made into brushes and matting.
Example Sentence
“Towering above the sandstone cliffs, the massive red spike of the Gymea lily was impossible to miss.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Gives its name to the southern Sydney suburb of Gymea and Gymea Bay.
A spectacular and popular native architectural plant in public botanic gardens and Australian landscapes.
ð Sources & Further Reading
- Borrowings from Aboriginal Languages â Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU
- List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin — Wikipedia
- Doryanthes excelsa - Wikipedia
Part of our Aboriginal Loanwords collection →
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