All plants are pretty incredible, but flowers can be particularly beautiful and therefore get a lot of the attention. Here are some cool facts that will make you love and appreciate them even more.
1. In the 17th century in Holland tulips were so revered that they were considered more valuable than gold. They went through a phase that was referred to as “tulip mania” in the 1630’s where people just couldn’t get enough of the flower. The tulips were even used as currency, despite only having a life of a few days after being cut.
2. There is a plant called the gas plant which gives off an odor that can actually be ignited with a match. It smells a bit like lemon.
3. Bamboo plants actually have flowers, but sometimes the plants don’t develop flowers until 65 to 125 years later. All bamboo plants of the same species will flower at the same time even when they are located in different areas of the world. Bamboo is particularly effective at cleaning the air since it absorbs more carbon dioxide than other plants and released 30 percent more oxygen into the atmosphere.
4. The angelica flower has been used as natural cure for many years, starting in Europe. It is sometimes referred to as wild celery since it somewhat resembles the vegetables. Angelica is taken in supplement form by some people to treat liver problems, issues of the respiratory system, and handle digestive issues.
5. The egyptians viewed the lotus flower as symbol of resurrection and eternal life since it has the ability to lay dormant for years if a drought takes place before blooming again.
6. The head of the sunflower is actually made up of tons of small flowers called florets. Some people believe that the sunflower head tracks the movement of the sun, but others dispute this concept. The tallest sunflower ever recorded was in 1986 and stood 25 feet and 5.5 inches tall.
7. The agave plant will grow a single flower before dying after many years of not flowering at all.
8. The moonflower is unique in that it blooms at night and then closes up as soon as the daylight shines on it.
9. Roses are actually in the same family as apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, and almonds, and their hips are great sources of vitamin C. They are often made into tea, jams, and jellys.
10. The largest flowers in the world come from a species called Titan Arum, which can grow to be the size of a small tree. They also have a particularly bad smell that gets them the unappetizing nickname of “corpse flower.”