Posted by admin | Posted in Flowers and plants database | Posted on 11-12-2006
Tags: chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum flower, chrysanthemum plant
Chrysanthemums are a genus (Chrysanthemum) of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Amongst florists and in the floral industry, they are commonly referred to as “mums”.
Chrysanthemum history
Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC. An ancient Chinese city was named Chu-Hsien, meaning “chrysanthemum city”. The flower was introduced into Japan probably in the 8th century CE, and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal. There is a “Festival of Happiness” in Japan that celebrates the flower.
The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th century. Linnaeus named it from the Greek prefix chrys-, which means golden (the colour of the original flowers), and -anthemon, meaning flower.