Flower with a musty fragrance, to 6 inches (15 cm) across. Petals oblanceolate, banana-yellow, outer petals and sepals projecting beyond inners. Filaments varying from light orangish-yellow to darker russet-orange. Flowers have a musty aroma. Stem semicolumnar, to 3¾ inches (9.5 cm) in diameter; central spines to ¾ inch (20 mm) long. The impressive flowers are not only large but relatively long-lasting. Named for Charlemagne, king of the Franks and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in the eight and ninth centuries A.D. ISI 99-5; HBG 82617, Schick 1395-9.
