Bees are agents of pollination by moving pollen from the stamen to the stigma of the flower.
A flower is the bud composed of colorful leaves that arises in various plants and from which the fruit develops. Its etymological origin takes us to the Latin flos – floris and it is associated with the goddess of Roman mythology Flora , who represented flowers and spring.
Many times the flower is a sprout with reproductive capacity : it generates, through sexual reproduction, the seeds that allow the appearance of new plant specimens. The flowers have a stem with leaves (both fertile and non-fertile).
The sterile sector of the flower, which surrounds and protects the sexual organs, is called the perianth . This structure is made up of the calyx (whose pieces are called sepals ) and the corolla (composed of the petals ).
The flower as a decorative element
Thanks to the colors and shapes of the petals and the perfume, flowers are used as a decorative element . They are also a common gift that is made to honor a person, especially a woman . For example: "For our anniversary, my husband gave me some beautiful flowers," "My neighbor gave me a flower and invited me to go to the movies," "At the end of the show, the actress received flowers and a cake for her birthday." » .
A bouquet or basket of flowers , in this context, are classic gifts on dates such as Valentine's Day or Mother's Day . At a wedding party, the floral arrangement is a central element of the table decoration, just as the bridal bouquet is traditional in the ceremony.
In a garden , azaleas, lilies, begonias, dahlias, gardenias, geraniums, hydrangeas, hyacinths, magnolias, pansies, roses and violets are among the most chosen flowers. Each gardener, of course, must consider the climatic characteristics of the place to define which species are appropriate.
If we refer to Asia , we can highlight the existence of ikebana (Japanese floral art). Its origin is linked to the arrival of Buddhism to Japanese territory in the 6th century .
It is also important to know that floriculture is the technique and art of growing plants with the aim of obtaining flowers, which are then put up for sale in market stalls, nurseries or florists.
It is curious that, given the beauty of the flowers, their appearance is even imitated. That is why paper flowers and fabric flowers are made, or prints with floral designs are made.
The pumpkin flower is one of the most consumed edible flowers.
Aromatherapy and other treatments
Aromatherapy is an alternative medicine that uses the aroma of flowers to contribute to well-being. Lavender essential oil is one of the most used for this purpose.
Bach flowers , meanwhile, are preparations that are prepared with floral essence to be used in different treatments. It must be taken into account that conventional (scientific) medicine does not approve of this type of practice since its supposed benefits have not been reliably demonstrated. Beyond this issue, there are peoples with ancestral traditions that use medicinal flowers to influence health.
Flowers as inspiration for artists
Flowers have inspired numerous artists from different existing disciplines. Flower painting, for example, is very popular and has generated paintings such as "Hand with a Bouquet of Flowers" by Pablo Picasso. Flowers in music are also common, as demonstrated by the song "Flor de lis" by the group Ketama .
Precisely the fleur-de-lis is an important symbol of heraldry, representing the lily flower with which the families that belonged to French royalty were identified.
The mention of flowers in literature, on the other hand, is recurrent. "Stolen Flowers in the Gardens of Quilmes" , to indicate one case, is the title of a novel by the Argentine Jorge Asís that was published in 1980 and became a best seller.
Nor can we fail to refer to flower photography , a frequent resource among those who choose to portray nature.
Painting of a vase with sunflowers.
a feminine name
In addition to everything indicated, we can point out that Flor is also a woman's name. It is attributed to adventurous, independent women, with great inner beauty and who are always willing to help others. All this without overlooking that they have leadership skills, sensitivity and an enormous passion for the environment.
Other characteristics attributed to women named Flor are that they highly value friendship and family, they need to feel useful and they reject any type of conflict at all times.
Other uses of the flower concept
The idea of a flower, on the other hand, can be used to refer to virginity : "When I was a girl, my grandmother always told me to save my flower until I met the right boy."
In some countries , the expression "flower of" is used to highlight a magnitude or degree of something: "How can you think of leaving the house alone and with the door open? "You're an idiot," "I was so scared when I saw the broken glass!" .