Flowers had a great influence on the development of a huge number of world cultures. Somewhere they are used simply as a decor item, somewhere they are used to provide a sign of attention, and somewhere they are treated as a deified object.
In fact, a flower is just an organ of plant propagation, but thanks to the natural sense of aesthetics inherent in most people, mankind over the centuries of its existence has managed to turn them into a real cult. We have collected 10 interesting facts about colors that are useful for everyone to know.
10. White flowers do not exist - in fact they are colorless
Contrary to popular belief, white petals are not white. They just do not have coloring pigment in their structure.
By the way, black is also not found in the plant world: the shades closest to it are dark red or dark purple.
9. In Hinduism, flowers are widely used for sacrifices.
In one of the most widespread world religions - Hinduism, people often use flowers to perform various rituals and rituals. In addition, they are often sacrificed to Hindu deities.
It is believed that the Gods feed on pleasant aromas, therefore, during this ritual, incense is always lit and fresh flowers are sacrificed.
According to the views of Hinduism, recently cut flowers are the personification of life, interrupted at the peak of its heyday. A dead flower could later become a fruit. The fruit would give seeds, thanks to which the existence of the species continued.
Tearing fresh flowers, a person interrupts the natural cycle of nature. It kills the life of the plant in its most beautiful phase. Because of this, a plucked flower is often compared with a young girl who died at the peak of her beauty and strength.
For the same reason, in cultures where human sacrifices were regularly carried out, it was the young girl who did not have time to enter into marriage and give offspring was considered the most suitable victim.
8. The oldest rose on the planet for 1000 years adorns the German town of Hildesheim
At the moment, the famous Millennium Rose is not just a city attraction, but also a kind of shrine, which is given reverence as an eyewitness to the birth and development of the state.
Once upon a time, Emperor William II was presented with a cross made from the branch of the same rose. And Archduke Elizabeth of Austria presented the cathedral with a costume of the clergyman, which she made with her own hands, in gratitude for the fact that the townspeople had previously given her the sprout of the Millennial Rose.
7. In Australia, the Risentella orchid does not bloom on the surface, but underground
It is difficult to believe in this simple layman who does not have deep knowledge in botany, but in the world there flower that lives on earth. The size of this unusual plant usually does not exceed 8 cm.
Since risantella cannot absorb solar energy like other plants, it receives nutrients and carbon dioxide from a nearby shrub, to which it attaches with a special mushroom. It performs the function of a kind of conductor, through which all the necessary substances enter the flower to maintain its normal life.
6. People bred about 50,000 roses and their hybrids
People’s love for these colors knows no measure. They can be presented in almost any situation: for a birthday, wedding, date, a concert of a favorite artist, etc.
therefore mankind throughout its history, tried to breed as many species of these beautiful plants as possible. Thanks to this, at the moment we can enjoy an amazing variety of roses and give them to our loved ones.
5. The world's largest water lily Victoria Regia reaches 2 meters in diameter
This is not only the largest water lily in the world, but also one of the most popular greenhouse plants in the world. In addition, Victoria Regia is considered the national flower of Guyana and is even depicted on the coat of arms of this country.
4. Scientists have proven that flowers respond differently to people depending on how they relate to them.
It is believed that flowers do not have the ability to carry out the thought process and the manifestation of emotional reactions. However, the latest scientific evidence makes us look at this issue from a completely different perspective.
The fact is that scientists have proved that all living organisms, including flowers, have a biofield that helps them convey emotions and information to each other.
Therefore, when starting a houseplant, pay attention not only to the watering regime and air temperature, but also to the emotional climate in the room.
3. The most expensive flower in the world (golden orchid) can be bought for about 5 thousand dollars
The high cost of a flower is primarily due to the fact that it begins to bloom only when it turns 15 years old.
2. The highest flower on Earth is called titanic amorphophallus and rises about 3 meters above the ground
This plant has the world's largest inflorescence, whose height can reach 2.5 m and a width of 1.5 m.
It is noteworthy that the flower of the titanic amorphophallus exudes a very sharp unpleasant odor. Also a characteristic feature of this tropical plant is that it begins to “smell” only when it is touched.
The vast majority of amorphophallus species are endemic. They grow mainly on disturbed grounds, such as secondary forests, rocks, etc.
Amorphophallus tubers are often used in traditional Japanese cuisine when preparing first courses or when stewing meat. Also, noodle flour and a gelatin-like mixture can be made from it, from which later special tofu is made. In addition, this plant is used as a raw material for the production of products for people with diabetes.
1. The world's first floral watch was planted in 1720 in Switzerland
The very first floral clock appeared in the 20s of the eighteenth century. They were invented by the outstanding natural scientist Karl Linnaeus. Through careful observation, he found that the flowers of different plants bloom and always close at a certain time, which allows them to check the clock.
However, this natural mechanism has its drawbacks - the accuracy of such watches is directly dependent on the weather.
Until now the most famous flower watches were considered Japanese and Swiss. The capital of Russia also boasts the presence of a similar attraction - the diameter of the watch on Poklonnaya Hill is 10 meters.