Plants erect, 40-150 cm tall. Roots fleshy with swollen tuberous parts. Leaves linear, 50-90 x 1-2.5 cm, glabrous, acute. Inflorescence 2-5 (-10)-flowered helicoid cyme. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute. Pedicel c. 5 mm. Flowers unscented, day-opening. Perianth single, occasionally double (stamens petaloid), orange to reddish orange; tube 2-4 cm, segments 5-12 x 1-3 cm with a purple or reddish orange patch; inner broader than the outer. Filaments 4-5 cm, anthers yellow or purplish black, 5-8 mm. Stigma 3-lobed. Capsule rarely formed.

Fl. Per.: May-July.

Type: Described from Ungaria [Hungary] near the little town of Nemethwywar.

Distribution: N. Iran, Pakistan (Hazara, Dir), Kashmir, India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia to Central Europe.

River valleys, forest water meadows, moist places, between 1500-3000 m.

Day Lily, Orange Day Lily, Tawny Day Lily, single or double flowered cultivated in gardens for flowers ranging from near white to rose, purple, maroon and with variegations. The flowers are culinary delicacy in China and Japan and the tuberous roots are also eaten. In some parts it is grown as a crop also. The flowers are used as a flavouring agent, buds are cooked in various ways and also used as salad. The flowers are also important from medicinal point of view.