Language of flowers 518268 225230114 2008-07-12T16:12:48Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{Unreferenced|date=July 2008}} {{for|the indie pop band|Language of Flowers (band)}} [[Image:Common Lilac.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Purple [[lilac]] symbolizes "first emotions of love" in the language of flowers.]] The '''language of flowers''', sometimes called '''floriography''', was a [[Victorian era|Victorian-era]] means of [[communication]] in which various [[flowers]] and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through [[Tussie-mussies|Tussie-Mussies]], an art which has a following today. The nuances of the [[language]] are now mostly forgotten, but red [[rose]]s still imply passionate, romantic [[love]] pink roses a lesser affection; white roses suggest [[virtue]] and [[chastity]] and yellow roses still stand for [[friendship]] or [[devotion]]. Also commonly known meanings are [[sunflower]]s, which can indicate either haughtiness or [[respect]] &ndash; they were the favorite flower of [[Julie Billiart|St. Julie Billiart]] for this reason. [[Gerbera]] ([[Daisy]]) means innocence or purity. The [[Iris (plant)|iris]], being named for the messenger of the gods in [[Greek mythology]], still represents a message being sent. A [[pansy]] signifies thought, a [[daffodil]] regard, and a string of [[ivy]] fidelity. ==History== Though most popular in the Victorian period, the symbolic use of flowers dates back to antiquity. In Medieval and Renaissance culture flowers were often given moral meanings. This is most apparent in art in which saints are often depicted with flowers, symbolic of their virtues. Liana DeGirolami Cheney notes that "some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose, the myrtle, a vessel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn".<ref>DeGirolami Cheney, Liana. "Vasari's Chamber of Abraham: A Religious Painted Ceiling in the Casa Vasari of Arezzo". ''Sixteenth Century Journal'', Volume 18, No. 3, Autumn, 1987, pp. 355-380.</ref> The Turkish "Salem", or language of objects, developed to communicate any message without the need to write. There is also an independent Japanese ''flower language'', called [[Hanakotoba]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Peterson|first=Coral|title=Kawaii Culture: The Language of Flowers|url=http://www.tokyopop.com/Robofish/tp_article/286911.html |publisher=Tokyopop.com|date=[[2006-10-10]]|accessdate=2007-03-21|quote=Many flowers have secret meanings and in Japan the language of flowers is called hanakotoba.}}</ref> == Symbolic meaning of some common flowers == {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"| Flower ! Meaning <ref name="footnote"> Most of the meanings are taken from the book: {{cite book | title = The Complete Guide to Calligraphy: the Essential Reference for all Calligraphers | origyear = 2006 | publisher = Oceana, Quantum Publishing | id = ISBN 0681288647 }} </ref> |- |colspan="2"| [[Abecedary]] || Volubility |- |colspan="2"| [[Abatina]] || Fickleness |- |colspan="2"| [[Acacia]] || Secret, chaste love |- |colspan="2"| [[Acanthus (genus)|Acanthus]] || Art |- |colspan="2"| [[Acalia]] || Temperance |- |colspan="2"| [[Aconite]] || Misanthropy |- |colspan="2"| [[Agrimony]] || Thankfulness |- |colspan="2"| [[Aloe]] || Grief |- |colspan="2"| [[Almond]] || Promise |- |colspan="2"| [[Amaranth (Globe)]] || Immortal love |- |colspan="2"| [[Anemone]] || Forsaken, Sickness |- |colspan="2"| [[Angrec]] || Royalty |- |colspan="2"| [[Apple]]-blossom || Preference |- |colspan="2"| [[Thuja| Arbor vitae]] || Everlasting friendship |- |colspan="2"| [[Balm]] <!-- need to fix link, leads to disambiguation page (06/2007)--> || Social intercourse or sympathy |- |colspan="2"| [[Impatiens| Balsamine]] || Impatience |- |colspan="2"| [[Bay leaf|Bay]] wreath || Glory |- |colspan="2"| [[Bumblebee Orchid|Bee orchid]] || Industry |- |colspan="2"| [[Bells of Ireland]] || Luck |- |colspan="2"| [[Lotus corniculatus|Bird's foot trefoil]] || Revenge |- |colspan="2"| [[Buxus|Box]] || Constancy |- |colspan="2"| [[Broom (shrub)| Broom]] || Humility |- |colspan="2"| [[Bulrush]] || Docility |- |colspan="2"| [[Ranunculus|Buttercup]] || Riches |- |colspan="2"| [[Cabbage]] || Profit |- |colspan="2"| [[Camellia japonica]] || Unpretending excellence |- |colspan="2"| [[Campanula]] || Gratitude |- |colspan="2"| [[Canterbury Bells]] || Gratitude |- |rowspan="6"| [[Carnation]] | [[pink]] || A woman's love |- | [[white]] || Disdain |- | [[Purple]] || Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable |- | [[Red]] || My heart aches for you |- | [[Yellow]] || You have disappointed me; Rejection; disdain |- | [[Stripe]]d || Refusal |- |colspan="2"| [[Celandine]] || Joys to come |- |rowspan="2" colspan="2"| [[Sakura|Cherry blossom]] | A good education |- | Transience of life (in [[Japan]]) |- |colspan="2"| [[Chestnut]] || Do me justice |- |colspan="2"| [[Aster (genus)| China aster]] || Love of variety |- |rowspan="2"| [[Chrysanthemum]] | [[red]] || I love |- | [[yellow]] || Sighted love |- |colspan="2"| [[Tickseed|Coreopsis]] || Always cheerful |- |colspan="2"| [[Cowslip]] <!-- need to fix link, leads to disambiguation page (06/2007)--> || Winning grace |- |rowspan="2"| [[Clover]] | [[red]] || Industry |- |- | [[white]] || I promise |- |colspan="2"| [[Coriander]] || Lust |- |colspan="2"| [[Narcissus (genus)|Daffodil]] || Uncertainty, chivalry, respect, or unrequited love |- |colspan="2"| [[Dahlia]] || Elegance and dignity |- |colspan="2"| [[Dandelion]] || Coquetry |- |colspan="2"| [[Rosa rubiginosa|Eglantine Rose]] || A wound to heal |- |colspan="2"| [[Elderberry|Elderflower]] || Compassion |- |colspan="2"| [[Fennel]] || Strength |- |colspan="2"| [[Forget-me-not]] || True love |- |colspan="2"| [[Geranium]] || Gentility |- |colspan="2"| [[Gorse]] || Love in all seasons |- |colspan="2"| [[Grass]] || Submission |- |colspan="2"| [[Heliotropium|Heliotrope]] || Devotion |- |colspan="2"| [[Hollyhock]] || Ambition |- |colspan="2"| [[Honeysuckle]] || Devoted affection, bonds of love |- |colspan="2"| [[Houseleek]] || Domestic economy |- |colspan="2"| [[Ivy]] || Dependence |- |colspan="2"| [[Jonquil]] || Return my affection |- |colspan="2"| [[Viburnum tinus| Laurestine]] || A token |- |colspan="2"| [[Lavender]] || Mistrust |- |colspan="2"| [[Lemon]]-blossom || Discretion |- |colspan="2"| [[Lettuce]] || Cold-hearted |- |colspan="2"| [[Lichen]] || Solitude |} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"| Flower ! Meaning |- |rowspan="2"| [[Lilac]] | [[purple]] || first emotion of love |- |[[white]] || youthful innocence |- |rowspan="2"| [[Lilium|Lily]] |[[white]] || Purity |- |[[Scarlet (color)|scarlet]] || High-souled aspirations |- |colspan="2"| [[Tilia|Lime Blossom]] || Fornication |- |colspan="2"| [[Lobelia]] || Malevolence |- |colspan="2"| [[Lotus]] || Eloquence |- |colspan="2"| [[Amaranthus caudatus|Love lies bleeding]] || Hopelessness |- |colspan="2"| [[Magnolia]] || Love of nature |- |colspan="2"| [[Mallow]] || Consumed by love |- |colspan="2"| [[Marigold]] <!-- need to fix link, leads to disambiguation page (06/2007)--> || Pain and grief |- |colspan="2"| [[Mayflower]] || Welcome |- |colspan="2"| [[Mignonette (Reseda)|Mignonette]] || Worth |- |colspan="2"| [[Mentha|Mint]] || Suspicion |- |colspan="2"| [[Morning glory]] || Love In Vain |- |colspan="2"| [[Mullein]] || Good-nature |- |colspan="2"| [[Nasturtium]] || Patriotism |- |colspan="2"| [[Oak]] leaf || Strength |- |colspan="2"| [[Oat]]s || Music |- |colspan="2"| [[Olive]] || Peace |- |colspan="2"| [[Leucanthemum vulgare|Oxeye daisy]] || Patience |- |colspan="2"| [[Pear]] blossom || Lasting friendship |- |colspan="2"| [[Pitch pine]] blossom || Philosophy |- |rowspan="1"| [[Poppy]] | [[white]] || Dreams |- |rowspan="14"| [[Rose]] | [[red]] || True love |- | [[Blue rose|blue]] || Mystery or attaining the impossible |- | [[white]] || Silence or innocence, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility |- | [[Black Rose (symbolism)|black]] || Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirth |- | [[yellow]] || Friendship, or dying love (or [[platonic love]]) or jealousy, infidelity |- | [[pink]] || Grace |- | dark pink || Gratitude |- | light pink || Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy |- | [[Burgundy (color)|burgundy]] || Beauty |- | [[Coral (color)|coral]] or [[Orange (colour)|orange]] || Desire, passion |- | [[Lavender (color)|lavender]] ([[Violet (color)|violet]]) || Love at first sight |- | red and white together || Unity |- | red and yellow together || Joy, happiness, and excitement |- | Thornless || Love at first sight |- |colspan="2"| [[Rosemary]] || Remembrance |- |colspan="2"| [[Rue]] || Regret |- |colspan="2"| [[Mimosa pudica|Sensitive Plant]] || Sensitivity |- |colspan="2"| [[Snowdrop]] || Consolation or hope |- |colspan="2"| [[Star of Bethlehem (plant)|Star of Bethlehem]] || Hope |- |colspan="2"| [[Straw]] || United |- |colspan="2"| [[Sunflower]] || Pure and lofty thoughts |- |colspan="2"| [[Rosa rubiginosa|Sweetbrier]] || Simplicity |- |colspan="2"| [[Datura stramonium|Thorn-apple]] || Disguise |- |colspan="2"| [[Thistle]] || [[:wikt:nobility|Nobility]] |- |colspan="2"| [[Thyme]] || Thriftiness |- |colspan="2"| [[Liriodendron tulipifera|Tulip-tree]] || Fame |- |rowspan="2"| [[Tulip]] | [[red]] || Declaration of love |- | [[yellow]] || Hopeless love |- |rowspan="2"| [[Violet (plant)|Violet]] | [[blue]] || Faithfulness |- | [[white]] || Modesty |- |colspan="2"| [[Willow (creeping)]] || Love forsaken |- |colspan="2"| Winged [[seeds]] (any kind) || Messengers |- |colspan="2"| [[Witch-hazel]] || A spell |- |colspan="2"| [[Wheat]] || Wealth and prosperity |} {{col-end}} ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==See also== *[[Blue rose]] *[[Rose#Culture|Rose - Culture]] *[[Birthday flowers]] *[[Hanakotoba]] ==External links== *[http://www.earthlypursuits.com/FlwrsPer/FPtitle.htm Flowers ebook: ''The Flowers Personified'', 1847] *[http://www.literarycalligraphy.com/books/history.html Chapter Excerpts: ''History of the Language of Flowers''] *[http://web.archive.org/web/20041027083216/http://www.spies.com/~artemis/victorianflowers.html Flower Language Bibliography] ([[Internet Archive|archive]] link, was [[Dead link|dead]]) *[http://home.comcast.net/~bryant.katherine/flowers.html Flower Language Bibliography ] Current version of same authour's page *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A5268035 Floriography - the Language of Flowers] BBC h2g2 entry ===Lists of flower meanings=== *[http://www.apocalypse.org/pub/u/hilda/flang.html The Victorian Language of Flowers] *[http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/flowerlanguage.html The Language of Flowers] *[http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html Victorian Bazaar list of flower meanings] [[Category:Encodings]] [[Category:Symbolism]] [[Category:Victorian era]] [[Category:Flowers]] [[Category:Lexis]] [[cs:Květomluva]] [[de:Blumensprache]] [[es:Lenguaje de las flores]] [[eo:Florlingvo]] [[fr:Langage des fleurs]] [[it:Linguaggio dei fiori]] [[he:שפת הפרחים]] [[ja:花言葉]] [[pl:Symbole kwiatowe]] [[pt:Linguagem das flores]] [[ru:Язык цветов]] [[fi:Kukkaiskieli]] [[th:ภาษาดอกไม้]] [[zh:花语]]