We can safely say that all representatives of mankind love flowers. Someone likes to receive them as a gift, and someone likes to grow them on the windowsill, or on suburban area. Therefore, it will be interesting for everyone, without exception, to learn some amazing facts about flowers. And in this article you will learn a lot of useful and little-known information.
TOP-1O most interesting facts about flowers
Here are ten interesting facts:
- Flowers "firebird" or they are also called "crane" in their shape are really very reminiscent of birds. They grow up to ten centimeters tall. They bloom in autumn or spring and continue to bloom for about a few weeks.
The fire bird has no smell. But there is a lot of nectar that flows down the edges of the flowers.
- An interesting fact is connected with - meadow flowers. The flowers of this plant always look down. This position helps protect pollen and nectar from rain. Fruit-boxes have the same arrangement. In dry weather, seeds are poured through the holes in the boxes. But as soon as it rains, the holes immediately close, so the bell protects the seeds from moisture.
- - one of the first flowers that delight people in early spring. There was a time when tulips were extremely rare and expensive. One bulb cost about two thousand dollars. Now exists great amount tulips of different colors and shapes. Even a black color was bred. Tulips growing in nature are wild. They have single flowers. . They bloom in spring when there is still enough moisture. Interestingly, as soon as the heat comes, it fades and the leaves dry up. However, the bulb continues to live underground. In autumn, a new root system is formed in her, and in an early vein she blooms again. It turns out that the stem and leaves of the tulip are annuals, while the bulb lives up to 2-2.5 years. It is a fast growing plant. In one day, it grows two centimeters.
- Rysentella is an Australian orchid. It is interesting because it blooms and multiplies underground. She has no leaves. Inflorescence racemose. It has many small, fragrant flowers. One risentella can reproduce up to 250 seeds. At the very end of flowering appears on the surface of the earth. Then, in place of the flowers, a fruit is formed.
Risentella underground Bluebells Meadow Peony Chinese Mountain Edelweiss
- Victoria Regia is the largest water lily in the world. The plant can grow up to 2 meters in diameter. and withstand weight up to 50 kilograms. The lower part of the Victoria regia leaf is covered with sharp thorns. They are necessary for the plant to protect against fish. This unusual plant is found on the Amazon River, in South America. The water lily is named after Queen Victoria. An interesting fact is that the plant can change its color. The plant blooms through the night and each time the flowers can be of a different color: light pink, white, or red.
- was named after the legendary physician Pionovi. He treated and healed gods and people from wounds received in wars. In China, the peony is the national flower. It is believed to have magical properties. It is believed that the peony scares away evil spirits.
- Arabidopsis is the first plant to flower and produce seeds in space in the absence of gravity. The plant lives only forty days.
- and zhiryanka - plants that are predators. The leaves of such plants are covered with sticky mucus. Usually the mucus is like dew. Insects stick to the leaf. Thus, the plant begins to eat it. There is a process of absorption and digestion. Zhiryanka digests food in a day, and sundew takes several days to do this.
- - the plant is interesting because it is popularly called the "alpine star". Small flowers are very similar to pearls or stars. Edelweiss is the talisman of love. Only brave and strong climbers in hard-to-reach places in the mountains are able to see it. They say that edelweiss is the tears that a beautiful fairy living in the Alps shed because of unrequited love.
- Daisies were highly revered in ancient times. They decorated goblets from which they drank wine in honor of the arrival of spring. Daisy in Greek means "pearl". She is a symbol of love and brave knights. - the first flower that meets the sun at sunrise.
Conclusion
Flowers, in addition to their decorative function, can play an important role in medicine or even in the preparation of delicious dishes. An interesting fact is that decorative flowers are often poisonous.
For example, such a delphinium is a mortal danger to humans. In no case should you taste its young leaves, seeds or blue bells.
Fresh flowers are always pleasing to the eye and uplifting. It seems that you will not hear anything new about the same roses, tulips or daffodils - everything has long been written, told and sung. Meanwhile, there are still many interesting facts that will surprise even the most inveterate botanists and flower growers.
Obvious-incredible
Some flowers have such an unusual and amazing look that you immediately understand how boundless the fantasy of mother nature is. Here are just a few of her creations:
- Chirantodendron. The people call it the Hand of the Devil or the Hand of the Monkey. And indeed, outwardly, the flower looks at least strange, and if completely objective, it is intimidating. Large petals can be compared with the gates of hell, releasing into the "world" the devil's hand, ready to drag anyone who is nearby into the underworld.
An unusual plant native to Mexico is very hardy and can withstand significant temperature fluctuations. It grows rapidly and often reaches a height of up to 25 meters. Because of his charismatic appearance, he had no chance to go unnoticed among people, so it is not surprising that the flower was held in high esteem by the ancient Aztecs and was actively used in various religious rites.
- If bumblebees could smile, they would look exactly like this one. amazing flower. Translated from Greek, the name means “eyebrow”, and if you look closely, you can see a neat velvet border that resembles eyebrow arches. The color palette of ophrys petals is different: from white, yellow and pink to brown-gold. It is logical that the main pollinators of this plant are bees. The purpose of the bait has a strong resemblance to the "original" - the bumblebee flies to the appearance and smell, wanting to mate with the female, and as a result, participates in the pollination process.
The birthplace of the flower is Malta. For the growth of a bee-bearer, the presence of a certain type of mold in the soil is required, so breeding in other conditions is almost impossible. Attempts to adapt ofris to the climate of Great Britain and Australia were partially successful - due to the lack of a suitable type of bees, the plant was "transferred" to self-pollination.
- Lips of a prostitute. Other names are Hot Lips, Flower Lips. Looking at this extraordinary flower, nothing else comes to mind. In fact, the red semicircles that form the shape of a woman's mouth are bracts. That is, no longer leaves, but also not petals. In their crimson-red state, they are only a couple of days, after which they turn out, opening the way for white-yellow flowers. Visually, it looks as if the lady suddenly decided to show her tongue.
Interestingly, the Lips of the Prostitute is not just an original, but also a rather dangerous plant. It belongs to the category of madder, which are famous for their ability to release psychedelic substances - for example, Dimethyltryptamine. It grows in the tropical forests of Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama. Due to its great popularity with collectors, the flower is now endangered.
- Lithops or Living Stones. At the sight of this flower there is a certain optical illusion. It seems that pretty bright yellow daisies grow right out of the stones. Like all fleshy plants, lithopos are distinguished by good endurance and the ability to adapt to various weather conditions. environment. They perfectly tolerate drought, wind and rain and can take root even in soilless areas. It is enough to stick a leaf into a layer of pebbles for roots to sprout. Flower stones are endemic to South America, but they also feel great at home.
- Amorphophallus. Corpse Lily got its second name for a reason - its smell is simply disgusting. In the middle of a giant shuttlecock, painted inside in a maroon color, a phallus-like "head" rises, the height of which can reach 3.5 meters. Such monsters also weigh a lot - from 10 kg and above. Amorphophallus is considered the largest single flower in the world, living exclusively in Indonesia, and to be more precise, on the island of Sumatra.
During its long life (about 40 years), the plant can bloom only a few times, so when this significant event happens, it becomes top news not only in local but also in world news. Despite its fetid odor, the Corpse Lily is quite popular among insects. For the most part, these are dead eaters and flies that act as pollinators. Another amazing fact: each fertilized flower can produce a "harvest" of 3-4 million seeds.
Natural forecasters and geologists
It has long been noticed that some flowers are very sensitive to weather changes and can act as real predictors. For example, buttercups and mallows lower their heads before rain and appear wilted. Similar behavior is observed in well-known marigolds. In monstera and cannes, droplets of moisture appear on the leaves.
But acacia and honeysuckle, on the contrary, exude a richer aroma in anticipation of a thunderstorm, attracting more insects. In anticipation of a drought, the fern twists its leaves into tubes, trying to retain maximum moisture. If the above-described flowers are not nearby, then you can diagnose the weather using ordinary dandelions. When they are open to the world and the sun, then there will definitely not be rain.
In countries with active volcanoes, people have learned to predict an eruption from primrose flowers. Excessively heated soil stimulates the plant to grow and bloom even out of season. Poppy and violet can act as natural geologists. The first feels great on soil rich in copper and molybdenum, and the second accurately determines zinc deposits. It was thanks to the violet that the largest zinc vein in Europe was discovered at one time.
Floral heraldry
Ever since the Middle Ages, flowers have been actively used to create coat of arms, and not as decoration, but had a specific symbolic meaning. The most frequent "guests" were roses and lilies, which were the prototypes of the image of the Mother of God.
- The rose symbolized beauty and perfection, and only royal families had the right to depict wreaths and garlands on the nominal emblems. Noble families, who did not have a blood connection with the rulers, were forced to be content with single flowers. The red damask rose, which appeared in Europe in the 13th century, was brought to England after the Crusades and became the emblem of the Lancastrian royal court. But the representatives of the York dynasty preferred a white rose and decorated their coat of arms with it. Being different branches of the same Plantagenet family, these two families entered history thanks to the exhausting thirty-year war with each other, which was later called the War of the Scarlet and the White Rose.
- During the time of Louis IV, the coat of arms of France was decorated with a lily. Coins in the form of silver and gold lilies were even used in circulation, and the king himself was called the king of lilies. The royal house of Bourbons, which ruled the country for over 200 years, was literally obsessed with this flower. Her image could be found everywhere - on the doors of carriages, flags, musketeer uniforms, court clothes, etc. After the overthrow of the monarchy, the lily lost its title, and later scientists came to the conclusion that the iris served as the prototype of the coat of arms.
- The emblem of Singapore is the Miss Joaquin orchid. Pink-purple shades of the flower resemble the colors of the national clothes of Singaporean women. And this type of orchid has the ability to bloom all year round, which, according to the local government, symbolizes technological progress and people's desire for progress.
- On the coat of arms of Scotland, the burdock occupies an honorable place, symbolizing the stamina, tenacity, vitality and fearlessness of the northern people. There is a legend that tells how foreigners wanted to conquer Scottish territories, and the local population gave them a fierce rebuff. Hiding in the darkness of the night, the enemies tried to surround the camp of warriors, but stumbled upon a thistle in the darkness. Wailing in pain and surprise, they revealed their presence and were overwhelmed by the resistance army. Since then, an inconspicuous thorn has proudly flaunted on the coat of arms of the country, reflecting its rebellious character and fighting spirit.
- The Baltic states have chosen modest and delicate flowers for their coats of arms. For example, Lithuania preferred fragrant rue, while Finland fell in love with lily of the valley. Before the introduction of the euro, this beautiful and fragrant flower flaunted on the Finnish currency.
- Chrysanthemum has long been loved and revered by the Japanese. Its compact, laconic inflorescences are ideal for restrained Japan. The flower was a symbol of the imperial house, and already in modern times a special variety of chrysanthemums, called imperial, was bred.
Application in cooking
Flowers have been used for cooking since ancient times. Ancient Rome and Greece. What can we say about modern cuisine. Some plants are used as decorations for dishes, others are added in the form of spices, others are put fresh in food - there are a lot of options.
- The leaves of the mallow go as a "substitute" for salad, having a pleasant mild taste. Outwardly, they resemble maple leaves, attached to a tall stem, which is crowned with white, purple or pink inflorescences. During heat treatment, mallow becomes slippery and slimy, so it should only be eaten fresh.
- Calendula grows on almost every personal plot and is famous for its healing properties. Apart from therapeutic use, it can be actively added to soups, salads, rice and even pasta. When frying or boiling, the petals give off their color, so in some cases, calendula may well replace saffron.
- Nasturtium. Few people know, but the famous weaving garden plant edible and can serve as a condiment in salads and second courses. Seed fruits taste like capers, and they can also be used instead of pepper, after drying and chopping well.
This is also interesting
Flowers were sung in the poems of Pushkin, Blok, Tyutchev, and the famous novel by Dumas "The Black Tulip" is generally considered a classic of world literature. Here are some more interesting facts about flowers:
- The oldest rose is over 1000 years old. The location of the famous rose bush is a flower bed near the Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany. The plant literally occupied the wall of the cathedral, triumphantly rising already on the very roof of the building.
- The Puya Raymond flower opens its petals only once every 150 years. After the first and only flowering, he dies. This miracle grows on the slopes of the mountains of South America.
- The golden orchid, releasing its arrows only after 15 years of life, is rightfully considered one of the most expensive flowers in the world. Its price can reach $ 5,000, and to buy this beauty, you need to go to Malaysia.
- “Like a bug” - this is how the name of an elegant, bright and cheerful coreopsis is translated. At first glance, it’s pure mockery, but if you look at the seeds of this flower, then everything falls into place - outwardly you can’t distinguish them from bedbugs.
The world of flowers is amazing, and the deeper their theme is studied, the stronger the desire to learn more and more flares up.
What do we know about flowers? These are beautiful plants that accompany a person at all stages of his life. Different types of flowers have different symbolism, be it a declaration of love, fidelity, friendship, respect and even memory. Find out more about the plants you give or like to receive, grow at home.
Chrysanthemum is the imperial flower of Japan. One of the country's highest awards is the Order of the Chrysanthemum. During the chrysanthemum festival, one must admire every shade of flowering, while thinking deeply about the road traveled and the meaning of life.
For the ancient Greeks, violet was an indispensable attribute of the holidays, as well as decorating their own homes and statues of the gods. The Gauls considered the flower a symbol of innocence, modesty and sprinkled it on the bed of the grooms. The French competed in the Toulouse poetry tournaments, where one of the highest awards was the golden violet.
Some flowers are edible. For example, salads are made from dandelions, the main thing is to soak them. Chicory is a great coffee substitute. Salad is also made from chrysanthemum flowers. Soup is made from the lotus root.
The ability of flowers to "orient themselves in time" was used by Carl Linnaeus and created in 1720 in the city of Uppsala in Sweden the world's first flower clock. The dial of this unusual watch consisted of several sectors, in each of which flowers of a certain type grew. With the help of such watches, it was possible to determine the time quite accurately (with a difference of half an hour).
The oldest rose in the world grows in Germany. For more than 1000 years, it has bloomed every year at the Hildesheim Cathedral. The bush is almost equal to the roof of the building.
There was a time when there were no tulips in Holland. They were brought there from Turkey in the 16th century. In those days, tulips cost unheard of money. One tulip bulb cost more than two thousand dollars! The tulip is one of the fastest growing plant species. In a day, it can grow by an average of 2 cm.
Peony owes its name to the legendary doctor Pionovi, who cured gods and people from wounds received in battles. In China, the peony is considered the national flower, and magical properties. They say, evil spirits they can’t even stand the image of a peony.
Wild rose Rosa Acicularis can be found in the Arctic Circle.
The first plant to flower and produce seeds in space in the absence of gravity is Arabidopsis. Its life cycle is only 40 days; an Arabidopsis specimen was grown in 1982 on board a Russian space station Salyut-7.
The giant water lily from the Amazon is the largest aquatic plant. It can reach 2 m, and withstand a child. Strong ribs under the foliage help them stay afloat.
Velvichia mirabilis has only two leaves, although it can be up to 100 years old. Its leaves grow 5-8 cm per year, and the largest leaves were 8.2x2 m in size.
The raffia palm has the largest leaves in the world. They reach 20 m and are larger than all tree species.
The floating duckweed Wolffia arrhiza is the smallest flowering plant in the world. The size of its leaflets is only 0.5-1.2 mm in diameter.
Flowers are not only home decorations or birthday gifts. Bees make honey from flower nectar. Rose oil is pressed from roses. Here are some interesting facts about flowers.
Interesting information
- 1000 years old is the age of the oldest rose in the world. It grows in Germany, the city of Hildesheim, near the cathedral. The height of the bush is about 10 meters.
- Australia has a very unusual flora and fauna due to the fact that this continent was isolated from the rest of the world for a long time. Therefore, approximately 80% of all flowers that grow on this continent are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in wildlife.
- Yellow mimosa is actually silver acacia. And they confuse them because both mimosa and silver acacia together are part of the mimosa subfamily. Real mimosa has a lilac color.
- Probably everyone knows that flowers have their own daily routine, according to the position of the sun. Based on this knowledge, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus invented the flower clock. Their principle is as follows: the dial is divided into 12 sectors, in each of which flowers grow different types. And thanks to the movement of the sun and their life cycle, flowers begin to open at a certain time of the day with an accuracy of half an hour.
- It is very difficult to make saffron seasoning, because out of 5 thousand flowers only 28 grams of this seasoning are obtained.
- The rose is the most popular of all flowering plants. Scientists have artificially bred about 50 thousand varieties of roses. Scientists have not been able to breed a black rose. Those black roses that you can buy in the store are dark varieties of ordinary red roses.
- The first plant that was born on board the Salyut-7 space station is Arabidopis (it is also called Tal's clover).
- The Netherlands is world famous for its tulips. They were brought to Holland from Turkey in the 16th century.
- Chrysanthemums are the imperial flowers in Japan. Previously, only Members of the Emperor's family could wear chrysanthemums and their images on their clothes.
- Flowers are used in the search for minerals. For example, if violets grow somewhere, then that land contains a lot of zinc, and if sleep-grass - cobalt and nickel.
- 100 years is approximately the average lifespan of orchids.
- An unusual flower - Puya Raymonda - can be found in the South American mountains. Its peculiarity is that before blooming, it waits 150 years. And immediately after flowering dies.
- From physics, you can learn that white does not exist. There are also no white flowers. Because, in fact, such flowers are colorless. They do not have colored pigments. There are no black flowers either: they are either dark red or dark purple.
- The Australian Rysentella orchid blooms underground, not above the surface. Beetles pollinate it, not butterflies and bees.
- Convalia is a poisonous plant. Their leaves can be confused with wild garlic leaves, a plant that can be eaten and tastes like garlic. Convalis are included in the Red Book.
- Despite the fact that snowdrops are a common plant, they are listed in the Red Book.
- Rosehip belongs to roses. Its fruits contain vitamin C, you can make tea, make jam from them.
- Special varieties of roses can be used to make rose jam. It is made simply - the petals are ground with sugar. Rose jam has a bactericidal effect, so it is used for stomatitis.
- Rose petals that are bought in flower shops should not be eaten as they can be treated with strong chemicals. Manufacturers process flowers with various preservatives harmful to humans so that they long time kept their trade dress. Flower stall workers, when receiving new merchandise, sometimes wear gloves and masks to chemical substances did no harm to the body. Of course, there is nothing to be afraid of flowers, but you need to be careful with them, because an allergy can be not only to a natural floral smell, but also to the chemistry that plants are treated with.
Records
Interesting facts about flower records:
- The largest water lily in the world is the Victoria Regia. In diameter, the flower reaches two meters and can withstand an adult on itself. On its stem there are thorns that protect the water lily from being eaten by fish.
- The smallest flower is considered to be a plant belonging to the duckweed family. This is Wolffia Arrhiza. The leaves are about 1 mm long.
- The tallest flower is Amorphophallus Titanum, about three meters high.
- Rafflesia Arnold is the largest flower in the world: its diameter is about 91 centimeters, and its weight reaches 11 kilograms. Rafflensia is native to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
- The raffia palm has the longest leaves. Their length is about 20 meters.
- The golden orchid is the most expensive flower, it costs about 5 thousand dollars. The plant begins to bloom 15 years after planting.
No one can imagine their existence without flora and fauna, but not everyone knows how plants feel in reality. Facts about the most unusual plants in the world will allow you to understand many real things. Plants were created not only to decorate our society, but also to protect the people themselves. Facts from the life of plants will touch flowers, shrubs, and herbs.
1. The most cold-resistant plants are poplar and birch shoots. They can be cooled down to -196 degrees.
2. The noisiest tree is the cannon tree and it grows only in Guinea.
3.About 10 thousand poisonous plants is in our world.
4. There is a unique type of fungus on Earth. It tastes like chicken.
5. Only Ceratonia gives approximately the same seeds weighing 0.2 grams.
6. The fastest growing plant is the baobab. During the day, it can increase by 0.75 - 0.9 meters in height.
7. For those who are interested in plant life, it is worth saying that algae are considered the most ancient plant.
8. The nettle New Zealand tree is called the most dangerous stinging plant, because it can even kill a horse.
9. A tree grows in Brazil, the sap of which is used as diesel fuel.
10. The oldest tree is a pine from the United States of America.
11. The tree of life grows in Bahrain.
12. Approximately 375 thousand species of plants exist today in the world space.
13. The Tiger Orchid is considered the largest orchid of the plant world.
14. There are also white dandelions, not just yellow ones, as we are used to seeing them.
15. The German oak has its own postal address.
16. Of the 300 thousand varieties of plants, only 90 thousand are edible.
17. About 90% of plant foods come from plants.
18. Much earlier than people, wild roses appeared on Earth. The oldest of them appeared 50 million years ago.
19. The most expensive flower in terms of price is the Golden Orchid.
20. The largest water lily is on the Amazon.
21. One of the most interesting facts about leaves is that in India there is a plant called "deceive the stomach." Eating just a couple of leaves of this plant, you stay full for a whole week.
22. A hectare of pine forest can release about 5 kilograms of phytoncides into the atmosphere, which destroy microbes with incredible success.
23. Duckweed is the smallest plant in the world.
24. Plants and animals are amazing and this is proven by the fact that even echinacea produces honey.
25. Once upon a time, rice grains were used as a lie detector.
26. Peanut is not a nut. These are beans.
27. The smell of the most disgusting plant in the world is like rotten fish. This smell is produced by the amorphophallus plant.
28. Bamboo grows in China with the name leaf-growth. This plant increases by 40 centimeters per day.
29. During the day, sunflowers are not able to turn towards the sun.
30. Plants are given the ability to be albinos.
31. Land plants produce only half of the oxygen.
32. Many plants are capable of producing chemicals that are harmful and poisonous to the life of herbivores.
33. In 1954, it was possible to find the seeds of the Arctic lupine, which had been frozen for about 10,000 years.
34. Human life depends on 1500 varieties of cultivated plants.
35. Ficus from South Africa has the longest roots 120 meters long.
36. The most nutritious fruit of the plant world is the avocado.
37. The first plant that could bloom and produce seeds in the absence of gravity in space was Arabidopsis.
38. Rubber is also obtained from a plant. Its name is Hevea.
39. The arrangement of leaves on a plant has a strict order.
40. The most smelly plant Black Sea coast is the spotted aronnik.
41. There are plants in the world whose seeds unwind and twist.
42. There is a plant whose berries are 2000 times sweeter than sugar.
43. Mexico was named after the agave plant.
44. There are edible cacti in the world, which have a pleasant taste and tender flesh.
45. Approximately 50 fruits are held by 1 cactus.
46. In ancient times, parsley was a symbol of sadness.
47. Approximately 120 euros standing nightshade seeds. This plant is so expensive only because it can instantly kill.
48. There are approximately 50 types of nasturtium in the world.
49. If a mimosa is irritated, then it instantly begins to fold the leaves.
50. Not Holland is considered the birthplace of tulips. These flowers were first seen in the deserts of the Tien Shan and in the Central Asian steppe zones.
51.Most of the atmosphere on Earth is produced by algae.
52. In Brazil, a tree grows, which has the name "milk nipple".
53. The greenhouse effect is reduced by about 20% thanks to trees.
54. Approximately 10% nutrients is absorbed by trees from the soil, and the rest from the atmosphere.
55. From an average tree, it will be possible to create approximately 170 thousand pencils.
56. Stevia is the plant that can replace lollipops. This plant has a sweeter taste than candy.
57. There is a lichen in Antarctica that is 10,000 years old.
58. The inflorescence of the oldest plant Puya Raymonda consists of 8000 flowers.
59. The sequoia tree is considered the tallest plant in the world space.
60. All plants have a specific taste and aroma.