Scientists say there are over 270,000 species of flowers that have been documented and are living in the 21st Century. But scientists have yet to answer basic questions about these marvels of beauty... What led to their amazing diversity? Are there flowers that have not changed much during the evolution of this planet? The first plant fossils found were woody magnolia-like plants dating back 93 million years. Paleobotanists have more recently uncovered tiny herb-like flower fossils dating back 120 million years. Flowering plants, called angiosperms by scientists, were believed to be already diverse and found in most locations by the middle of the Cretaceous period… 146 million years ago. A myriad of images of preserved flowers and flower parts [in very fine detail] have been found in fossils located in Sweden, Portugal, England, and along the Eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Flowers have played a key role all throughout human history. Traces of
their usefulness can be found in various religious texts, folk tales,
and myths. Some types of flowers were used as food and continue to be
used as food until the present day; others have healing properties and
are used as medicine. Early man also recognized the aesthetic function
of flowers; in fact, some ancient cultures believed that they could
appease the spirits of their ancestors by decorating their tombs with a
particular type of flower.
The most important function that flowers have, however, is their power
to convey profound human emotions and thoughts the way no other object
can. Whenever your feelings are too intense for words – be it love,
grief, happiness, or gratitude - try expressing them through the gift
of flowers. You will find that, it will express your feelings perfectly.
The flower that holds the most obvious meaning is the rose, the eternal
symbol of romantic love and desire. During the Renaissance era, roses
were associated with Venus’s immortal beauty, whereas scratches made by
the rose’s thorny stem symbolized the wounds of love. Christian
symbolism also uses the red rose to stand for love and the blood of a
martyr. White roses signify purity, innocence, and charm, while pink
roses symbolize happiness.
Besides conveying messages, flowers can also affect our moods and
influence our emotions. According to a recent behavioral study made in
the State University of New Jersey, the presence of colorful flowers
heightens feelings of life satisfaction, triggers happy emotions and
memories, and influences social behavior in a positive manner. The
healing properties of flowers have also been proven by scientific
research.
Environmental psychologist Dr. Roger Ulrich discovered that when
flowers were visible to hospital patients, their need for pain
medication decreased, their stress levels dropped, and their stay in
the hospital were marked with an increased optimism. Perhaps the
positive effect flowers have on hospital patients also have something
to do with the meaning they carry - they are tangible proof that
someone cares about them and wishes them well. Flowers, therefore, have
an immediate impact on our emotions and a long-term positive effect on
our mood.
Flowers have been used for many purposes since the dawn of civilization
and are the carrier of significant meanings to other people. From
birthdays to funerals, flowers will always occupy a special place in
human celebrations and rituals. The next time you send flowers to
someone, place as much thought and meaning to your gifts as you would
place money into a beautiful, well-constructed bouquet.
