Tiger Lily Petals

True lilies belong to the same family (Liliaceae) as onion, leek, garlic, and chives. The plant has similar antimicrobial qualities to garlic. Lilies are one of the oldest cultivated plants. In China and Japan, they are grown for culinary uses and their bulbs have been eaten for centuries. Native Americans also used the lily as a vegetable in this way. The taste is reportedly akin to a parsnip or a potato.
Lilies have astringent properties (they shrink or constrict tissue or blood vessels) and some species are said to have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties.