Interesting information about flowers. Interesting facts that are not taught in school. Flowers report. Flowers message

What do we know about flowers? This - beautiful plants that accompany a person at all stages of his life. Different types flowers have different symbolism, whether it is a declaration of love, fidelity, friendship, respect and even memory. In addition to this, we have prepared a whole list of " Interesting Facts about flowers." Find out more about the plants you give, like to receive as a gift, grow at home or have only seen on TV!

1. The name "gladiolus" was given to the plant by the writer of Ancient Rome Pliny the Elder. In the 1st century AD, he drew attention to the similarity of the flower with the weapons of gladiators. Therefore, translated from Roman "Gladius" means "sword".
2. 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.

3. Did you know that in 1986 the rose was recognized as the national flower of the USA by the decision of the Congress?
4. The fact that the name of the sunflower came from the peculiarity of the flower to turn its head towards the sun has been known since school days. But few people know that before the advent of modern technologies it was the sunflower that was attached to life jackets to determine the cardinal points.

5. Love a spice like saffron? Then you should know: to get just one ounce of it (just over 28 grams), you need to collect and process about 5 thousand flowers.
6. Orchids - unique flowers. Nowadays, the most intricate types of it have been bred, including green and black. But the blue orchid was never produced.

7. 80% of tropical Australian flowers are not found anywhere on Earth except this continent.
8. Cultivate and grow flowers in Egypt began more than 4 thousand years ago.
9. Holland is the country of tulips. Hundreds and even thousands of species of beautiful flowers grow in the fields of this state. But there were times when there were no tulips in Holland. Initially, they were brought from Turkey (in the 16th century). Then one bulb of this plant cost more than precious stones and metals: about 2 thousand dollars.

10. Chrysanthemums are the imperial flowers in Japan. In this regard, the country has the Order of the Chrysanthemum and a holiday in honor of this flower.
Most of the favorite colors of the Japanese are odorless. In this state, it is customary to admire the beauty of a plant (even a fruit one), rather than inhale its aroma.
11. One of the fastest growing flowers in the world is the tulip. In just one day, it can grow by 2 centimeters.
12. South American wild ficus has the longest roots. There is evidence that the root system of one of the representatives of this plant reached more than 120 meters.

13. The peony is considered the national flower of China. In this country, he is credited with truth magical properties. The Chinese believe that the peony drives out evil spirits from their homes.
14. In the harsh region of the Arctic Circle you can find bushes wild rose.
15. scientific name forget-me-not plants (despite the deep meaning of the word) means "mouse ear".

16. Floating duckweed Wolffia arrhiza - the smallest flowering plant worldwide. The size of its tiny leaves barely reaches one millimeter.
17. Many beautiful flowers are excellent healers. For example, the delphinium was once often used for fractures as lotions.
18. A flower grows on the slopes of the mountains of South America, which blooms only at 150 years old. After that, he dies.

19. Dahlias are named after the navigator George. To give these flowers means to show respect and friendship.
20. All stages of his life, the Australian flower Rizantella Gardner spends underground. It is even pollinated by termites, underground insects.

Interesting video. A rare giant flower has bloomed in Japan.

The school course gives us a fairly clear basis of knowledge. Humanities and exact sciences are presented (ideally) to a sufficient extent so that a young person can go into the world adapted. And everything seems to be working out. However, later on, an adult person meets with trifles that simply do not fit the received pattern of knowledge. And from this, myths, fakes and alternative sciences appear, which can lead to "heresy" and a pseudoscientific swamp.

Green blood in humans

No, we don't turn into aliens. It's about the color of blood underwater. More precisely about our color perception. Water works like a light filter. Waves of red color do not pass a depth of already 3 meters. So at a level of 20 meters, the blood will look brown, and at 40-50 - green. This fact began to seriously help fishermen when choosing bait for.

It's not cold in the igloo

An igloo snow hut can be built by one person in about an hour. Most of us believe that it will be very cold in it, because everything is made of snow. Recall the school physics course: warm air rises up. That is why the entrance to the needle is as close as possible to the ground and is made in the form of a corridor. So the thermal cap inside will be maximum. After warming up the room, the temperature inside can reach +20 C. At the same time, the external cold, which freezes the walls and roof, does not allow them to melt.

Brain surgeries are often performed without general anesthesia

Such manipulations look creepy, and even Dr. Lector in one of the sequels to The Silence of the Lambs demonstrated this feature. does not feel pain. Therefore, only the area through which access will be carried out is anesthetized. Interestingly, some doctors during complex operations ask the patient to play on some musical instrument(if he can). With a minimal mistake of the surgeon, the operated person will immediately stop playing. True, the doctor at this moment will understand that it was better to call a more experienced colleague.

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 to 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. Color palette ophrys petals are 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.

It is interesting that the Prostitute's Lips are not only original, but also quite 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 maroon inside, rises a phallus-like head of cabbage, 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.

For my long life(about 40 years old) 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, in anticipation of a thunderstorm exude a richer aroma, 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 coats of arms. 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 royal court of Lancaster. 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 colors national clothes 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 look like Maple leaves, attaching 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 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 is another row cognitive facts about colors:

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.

Beautiful flowers have served as a home decoration for many centuries, they are used as a gift, designed to express attention, and even decorate clothes and hair with them. And biologists admire their diversity, interesting properties some species and the complete uniqueness of others. The life span of some of them is very short, but bright and beautiful, like creation itself.

Facts about flowers

All processes of sexual and asexual reproduction of angiosperms take place in flowers.
The smallest flowers can be seen on the ponds, near the common duckweed. Their diameter does not exceed 1 mm. And the largest, Arnold's rafflesia, grows in Indonesia, and its diameter exceeds 90 cm with a weight of up to 11 kg ().
The name forget-me-not has the same meaning in all major European languages.
The world's largest flower, Amorphophallum titanum, also grows in Indonesia. It reaches 3 meters in height.
In the Middle Ages, there was a real language of flowers. So, with the help of a rose with myrtle, the noble knight made it clear that he was asking the lady for a hand and heart, and a branch of cherry with a flower meant a declaration of love. Such a "flower language" is called "selam" ().
The most expensive flower in the world is the Malaysian golden orchid. It blooms for the first time only after reaching 15 years.
In Germany, in the city of Hildesheim grow the oldest flowers in the world. The rose bush near the local cathedral is over a thousand years old.
real mimosa lilac color, not yellow. The yellow ones commonly referred to as mimosas are the silver locust.
People began to grow flowers in gardens about 4 thousand years ago. The most ancient gardens, as far as we know, were arranged by the ancient Egyptians.
Flowers are present on the coats of arms of many countries - Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iran and many others ().
In the US, each state has its own flower symbol.
Some types of flowers are quite edible. For example, jams and even salads are made from dandelions prepared in a special way.
There are no black flowers in the world. There are no whites either - those that appear to be are actually just colorless.

An amazing flower grows in the mountains of South America, which blooms only once in a lifetime, and only after reaching the age of about 150 years.
In Japan, chrysanthemums are considered imperial flowers, and one of the highest state awards called the Order of the Chrysanthemum ().
In China, peonies are believed to ward off evil spirits. By the way, these flowers got their name in honor of the legendary doctor Pean, who, according to legend, even healed the gods.
Some flowers are remarkably tenacious. One type of wild rose grows even near the Arctic Circle.
Tulip flowers for the first time after their appearance in Europe were worth their weight in gold.
Now the Netherlands is famous for its tulips, but few people know that these flowers were brought to their country by the Dutch only in the 16th century from Turkey ().
Bees can distinguish between flowers with and without nectar based on the patterns they see on the petals.
In India, flowers are often used in sacrificial rituals - they are burned in a sacred fire.
All bluebell flowers are always directed downwards to protect their delicate inner part from the rain.
Arabidorpis was the first plant to bloom in space. He was brought to the Soviet orbital station Salyut-7 in 1982 with experimental targets ().
The amazing Australian orchid risentella gives a flower not on the surface, but underground. It is even pollinated by beetles, not bees.
People have bred about 50 thousand types of roses, and all of them come from wild rose hips.
The number of petals on a rose flower varies from 5 to 128.
It has been experimentally proven that flowers react differently to different people, depending on how they treat them.

Of course, flowers are an integral part of a relationship and besides this, flowers are the most common gift in the world. It is also worth noting that many countries have a national flower. For example, in China, the national flower is the peony. There are a huge number of types of flowers, which in turn are divided into varieties. Especially for you, we have prepared a selection of the most unusual and interesting facts about flowers.

The most expensive flower is the golden orchid, the cost of one flower reaches $5,000. This is due to the fact that the golden orchid begins to bloom when the plant is 15 years old.

It is believed that the first flowers began to grow in ancient Egypt.

Arabidopsis was the first flower to bloom in space.

Growing in Indonesia, Amorphophallus Titanum is the tallest flower in the world. Its height reaches three meters.

Perhaps one of the most interesting families of flowers are Rosyankovye. The most common and recognizable flower from this family is the Dionea flycatcher.