The Naming of Flowers

Familiar flowers are generally known by their common names - snapdragon, day lily, foxglove and the like. But the origins of those names are not so familiar, and this book sets out to explain the myths and facts behind such intriguing terms as pheasant's-eye, dame's violet and bleeding heart. The delphinium, for example is named for its similarity to the shape of a dolphin's nose, and catananche, the botanical name for Cupid's Dart, comes from a Greek word for "magic spell". 27 flowers are depicted in specially commissioned watercolours, and accompanied by an entertaining and informative text that traces the origin of both the Latin and common names of each plant, and offers further snippets of information about each flower, its history, characteristics and uses, and its botanic relations. Asters and foxgloves once had medicinal uses, as did many flowers; lavender has long been used for its fragrance, but for the Victorians it symbolized distrust, because the asp that killed Cleopatra hid under lavender bush; and marigolds symbolized sorrow and pain to the Aztecs, because of the blood-red blotches on their yellow petals.