Like all Hymenocallis, its flower construction consists of six spidery petals surrounding a central cup (corona). The cup, like that of the familiar daffodil (Narcissus), a genus in the same family, Amaryllidaceae, is featured prominently in the scientific name because Hymenocallis translates literally to "beautiful membrane". A unique characteristic of 'Tropical Giant' is that three of the petals curve down while the other three point out.