Interesting facts about Flowers

Bluebell Flower

Flowers have captured human imagination since ancient times primarily because they are beautiful (mostly) and produce various kinds of pleasing smells (with a few exceptions). Different flowers are associated with different symbolism and are used for different purposes.  Given below are some little known and strange fact about some rare and common flowers.

• There are more than 2,50,000 species of flowering plants in the world.

• Titan Arum are the world’s largest flower and is almost 10 feet in height. Due to its horrible smell of rotten flesh, it is also known as corpse flower.

Tulip Bulbs

• In 17^th Century Holland, Tulip bulbs were more valuable than gold! The flower symbolized immortality, life and love. In most recipes, Onions can be replaced with Tulip Bulbs.

• Ancient civilizations burned Astor leaves to ward off evil spirits.

• Ancient Egyptians considered lotus a sacred flower and used them in burial rituals. The interesting thing about lotus is that even though it blooms in swamps and wetlands, it can lie dormant for years during times of draught and bloom again when water returns. The Egyptians thought this as symbolizing the resurrection of life.

• The fossil of world’s oldest known flower was discovered by scientists in 2002, in Northeast China. The flower belonging to the genus Archaefructus bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembled a water lily.

• In earlier times the juice from bluebell flowers was used to make glue.

Foxglove

• Foxglove is a kind of pink tubular flower which derived its name from old English belief that foxes slipped into these flowers to sneak up on their prey!

• Dandelions look like weeds, but the flowers and leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium. One cup of dandelion greens provides 7,000-13,000 I.U. of vitamin A.

Moon Flower

• As the name suggests, Moon flowers bloom only at night closing during the day.

Gas Plant

• Gas plants produce a clear gas on humid warn nights. It is believed tha gas can be ignited with a matchstick.

Angelica

• Angelica was used in Europe for hundreds of years as a cure for everything from the bubonic plague to indigestion. It was thought to ward off evil spirits.

Agave Plant

• The Agave, also known as the century plant spends many years without growing any flowers, after which it grows one single bloom and dies.

• Bamboos produce flowers once every few years. And when they do, all flowers of the same species bloom at exactly the same time.

• Interflora is the world’s largest and most recognized flower delivery service, supported by a network of 50,000 florists worldwide, delivering to approximately 150 countries.