Most of us appreciate flowers for their vivid colors and lovely scents, but there are many fascinating aspects to floral life that go beyond mere beauty. Below are five interesting facts about flowers that will help you appreciate them on a whole new level:
Dandy Dandelions
One doesn’t often think of snacking on dandelions, but it’s a little-known fact that they are packed with nutrients that can help keep people healthy and strong. These blooms abound with vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and potassium. Believe it or not, one cup of dandelion greens contains 7,000 – 13,000 I.U of vitamin A. So, enjoy your flowers and eat them too!
Warring Roses
Did you know that in fifteenth century England roses were viewed as the figurative representations of the country’s two warring groups? Though today, they're associated with love and romance, in the 1400s, red roses symbolized the Lancaster faction and white roses represented the York faction. Because of these associations, the battle between Lancaster and York became known as “The War of The Roses.”
Lotus Lore
The lotus flower, which blooms in wetlands and rivers, was lauded by ancient Egyptians as a sacred flower. They viewed it as a symbol of eternal life and resurrection because of its ability to lie dormant through dry seasons and then bloom once more with the return of water.
Thistle History
When the ancient Vikings invaded Scotland, the thorns of the wild thistle slowed them down and hampered their invasion. While the Vikings were delayed amidst the thorny thistle, the Scots were able to escape the onslaught. Hence, wild thistle became the national flower of Scotland.
World’s Smallest Flower
The Wolffia flower is so small that a bouquet of a dozen of them would fit on the head of a pin. Wolffia, which is native to Australia and Malaysia, blooms on the surface of streams and ponds. To give you a more concrete idea of the size of an individual Wolffia blossom, consider this: the plant’s body is 0.6-0.9 mm long and 0.2-0.5 mm wide.
