*^* Flowers..Flowers all Around...*^*

Lets Celebrate Spring Season with the Fragnance of Flowers..Do you know Which are the National Flower of Various Countries and their Significance?

Why to have National Symbols or Flower :

A national emblem symbolically represents a nation. Most national emblems originate in the natural world, (as animals, say or birds), but another object may serve.

Lets Start with India :

Lotus : The Lotus symbolizes purity, beauty, majesty, grace, fertility, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity. They are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow in shallow and murky waters. The pink one is regarded as the National Flower of India. Some blue colored flowers are also sighted. These flowers enjoy a warm sunlight and intolerant to cold weather. This is why, they are not seen blossoming in the winter. The floating leaves and flowers have long stems, which contains air spaces to maintain the buoyancy.

Lets See National flower of some of our Neighbouring Countries :

Pakistan : Jasmine or Jessamine (Jasminum) (Yasmin in Arabic, Persian or Hebrew) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae), with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World.

Srilanka : In February 1986 blue water lily was chosen as the National flower. Found all the part of Sri Lanka and grows in the shallow water. Petals arranged like a star and the flat round waterproof leaves are bright green. It's a symbol of purity and truth. It has a sweet fragrance and used for offering at Buddhist Temples and rituals for god .

China : China does not have an "official" national flower, but the tree peony can be regarded as a national favorite. The tree peony (mudan) received the most votes in a survey conducted in 1994 in every district in China asking people to select a National Flower – a high honor for the peony in a country that loves flowers.

Bangladesh : The Water Lily (shapla) is the national flower of Bangladesh. It is found almost in every water body in the country.

The largest/Biggest Flower in the World is

The Rafflesia arnoldii.
The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 3 feet across and weigh up to 15 pounds! It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. It attaches itself to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting meat. This odor attracts insects that pollinate the plant.

❓❓Did you know ??❓❓

There is no National Flower of United states of America! and now THERE is a large and growing interest in the proposition that the United States should adopt a National flower -- one which should be to Americans what the rose is to the English and the iris to the French

Which is your Favorite Flower and Do tell us about the National Flower of your Country as well!

Keep Enjoying Spring with Flowers and butterflies all around!!

(c)Nishtha