U.S.A. - Wyoming - State Flower

THE INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, Wyoming's State Flower grows wild in the natural setting of the state's prairie and foothill regions.  Red is the predominant color, but shades of yellow and orange are also common.  This wild flower, growing amid sagebrush and cactus, adds great beauty to Wyoming's springtime landscape.

Sent by Camellia from Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.

Indian paintbrush (Castilleja linariaefolia) was designated the state flower of Wyoming in 1917. Also called prairie fire, Indian paintbrush is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes (as well as northeast Asia).

The species of Indian paintbrush adopted as a symbol of Wyoming (Castilleja linariaefolia) occurs on rocky slopes and arid plains and is associated with sagebrush scrub and pinyon pine or juniper woodland. It is native to Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. (read further)

U.S.A. - Idaho - State Flower

IDAHO
A Syringa bush grows along a bank of the Salmon River in Idaho. The Syringa is Idaho's state flower.

Sent by Tracy from Boise, Idaho.

The Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii) was designated the official state flower of Idaho in 1931. Syringa is a woody shrub growing to nine feet tall with with clusters of white, fragrant flowers.

Native American Indians found many uses for the syringa - the wood was used for root digging sticks and to make pipe stems, harpoon shafts, bows, arrows, and snowshoes. The bark and leaves were used to make a soap. (Source)

USA - New Jersey - State Flower

NEW JERSEY'S STATE FLOWER
Common Meadow Violet
(Viola sororia)

With its official status uncertain for over 50 years, the Violet was designated as the state flower in 1971 with strong support from garden clubs across the state. This plant is in bloom from March to June with purple or violet petals.

Sent by Megan, a postcrosser from Missori, USA.

The state flower of New Jersey was originally designated as such by a resolution of the Legislature in 1913. Unfortunately the force of resolution ended with the start of the 1914 legislative session, leaving the violet with uncertain status for the next fifty years. In 1963 an attempt was made to have the Legislature "officially" designate the violet as the state flower, but the legislation apparently failed. In 1971, at the urging of New Jersey's garden clubs, legislation more specifically designating the Common Meadow Violet (Viola sororia) as the state flower was enacted. (Source)

Scotland - Scottish Thistle

Scottish Thistle.

Sent by Joan, a postcrosser from Scotland.

This is from Wikipedia : Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the plant against herbivorous animals, discouraging them from feeding on the plant. Typically, aninvolucre with a clasping shape of a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flowerheads.

The term thistle is sometimes taken to mean exactly those plants in the tribe Cynareae (synonym: Cardueae), especially the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum. However, plants outside this tribe are sometimes called thistles, and if this is done thistles would form a polyphyletic group.

Thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland.

USA - Ohio - Ohio Wildflowers

Ohio Wildflowers
Black-eyed susan, Common cat-tail, Spotted knapweed, Common milkweed, Canada goldenrod. Wild carrot, Evening primrose, Bouncing bet.

Sent by Carol, a postcrosser from Ohio, USA.

Eastern Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens)

 

Eastern Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens).

Sent by Elena, a postcrosser from Minsk, Belarus.

This is from Wikipedia : Pulsatilla patens is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Russia, Mongolia, China, Canada and the United States. Common names include Eastern pasqueflower, prairie smoke, prairie crocus, and cutleaf anemone.

Advocates report that the population of Pulsatilla patens is declining, due to the synergy between the prairie crocus and shortgrass prairie ecosystems. Plowing up the prairie causes the crocus to disappear.

 

USA - Minnesota - State Flower

Minnesota's Official State Flower
THE SHOWY LADYSLIPPER

Sent by Katie, a postcrosser from Minneapolis, USA. Katie and I share the same birthdate :)

"The pink and white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also knows as the showy lady’s slipper or queen’s lady slipper, was adopted as the state flower in 1902. Found living in open fens, bogs, swamps, and damp woods where there is plenty of light, lady's slippers grow slowly, taking up to 16 years to produce their first flowers. They bloom in late June or early July. The plants live for up to 50 years and grow four feet tall. A century ago, the showy lady’s slipper was a favorite adornment in rural church altars during the summer. Since 1925 this rare wildflower has been protected by state law (it is illegal to pick the flowers or to uproot or unearth the plants). Specimens like the one pictured here are difficult to find, but with some effort can be found on the bog at Beckman Lake in Isanti County."(Source)

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Sent by Sarah, a postcrosser from Trier, Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : Papaver rhoeas (common names include corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, red weed, coquelicot, and, due to its odour, which is said to cause them, as headache and headwark) is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. This poppy, a native of Europe, is notable as an agricultural weed (hence the "corn" and "field") and as a symbol of fallen soldiers.


P. rhoeas sometimes is so abundant in agricultural fields that it may be mistaken for a crop. The only species of Papaveraceae grown as a field crop on a large scale is Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy.

The plant is a variable annual, forming a long-lived soil seed bank that can germinate when the soil is disturbed. In the northern hemisphere it generally flowers in late spring, but if the weather is warm enough other flowers frequently appear at the beginning of autumn. The flower is large and showy, with four petals that are vivid red, most commonly with a black spot at their base. Like many other species of Papaver, it exudes a white latex when the tissues are broken.


It is known to have been associated with agriculture in the Old World since early times. It has most of the characteristics of a successful weed of agriculture. These include an annual lifecycle that fits into that of most cereals, a tolerance of simple weed control methods, the ability to flower and seed itself before the crop is harvested.

The leaves and latex have an acrid taste and are mildly poisonous to grazing animals.

Its origin is not known for certain. As with many such plants, the area of origin is often ascribed by Americans to Europe, and by northern Europeans to southern Europe. The European Garden Flora suggests that it is ‘Eurasia and North Africa’; in other words, the lands where agriculture has been practiced since the earliest times. It has had an old symbolism and association with agricultural fertility.

Puerto Rico - Tropical Flowers

Tropical Flowers, Puerto Rico
From top left : Heliconia Hibiscus, Frangipani, Ginger (gengibre), Banana, Orchid (orquidea), Heliconia and Bromeliad.

Sent by Jare from Puerto Rico.

Slovenia - Triglav National Park - Edelweiss

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum).

Sent by Leonardo, a postcrosser from Slovenia.

USA - North Carolina - State Bird & State Flower

The Cardinal and Dogwood Blossom provide a colorful complementary contrast as the official bird and flower of this marvelous friendly state.

Sent by John from Tennessee, USA.

USA - Texas - State Flower (3)

BLUEBONNET
Official State Flower
Round Top, Texas.

Sent by Cate, a postcrosser from Texas, USA.

"Named for its color and, it is said, the resemblance of its petal to a woman's sunbonnet, the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. It blooms in the early spring and can be readily found in fields and along the roadsides throughout central and south Texas. Scientifically named Lupinus texensis, the bluebonnet is also called buffalo clover, wolf flower, and (by the Mexicans) el conejo. It was adopted as the official state flower by the Texas Legislature in 1901."(Source)

USA - Alaska - State Flower

Forget-Me-Nots
Mountain Forget-me-nots are found throughout Alaska. Forget-me-nots are the Alaska state flower.

Sent by Sarah, a WiP partner from Alaska, USA.

"Alaska's state flower is the alpine forget-me-not. It was chosen in 1949. The alpine forget-me-not is a perennial that grows 5 to 12 inches high in alpine meadows. The flowers have five connected salviform petals, colored sky blue, that are a quarter to a third of an inch wide. They have a white inner ring and a yellow center. The best time to see the alpine forget-me-not is midsummer, from late June to late July. In addition to finding the Myosotis alpestris, botanists in Denali National Park might also come across the mountain forget-me-not (Eritrichium aretiodes) and the splendid forget-me-not (Eritrichium splendens)."(Source)

USA - Virginia - Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge

Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge
Black-eyed Susan, Fire Pink, Phlox
Bull Thistle, Turk's Cap Lily, Columbine
Great Mullein, Butterfly Weed, Flame Azalea
Small Red Morning Glory, Chicory, Trumpet Vine

Sent by Ash from Virginia, USA.

Austria - National Flower - Edelweiss (Leonopodium alpinum)

EDELWEISS (leontopodium alpinum). This flower is the national flower of Austria.

Sent by Claudia, a postcrosser from Austria.

This is from Wikipedia : Edelweiss i/ˈeɪdəlvaɪs/, Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.

The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß (also spelled weiss) "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".

The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek leontopódion (λεοντοπόδιον) "lion's paw", from léōn "lion" and pódion "foot" (diminutive of poús, podós "foot").

The Romanian name, floarea reginei, means "Queen's flower". Also, another common name is floare de colţ which means "mountain flower".

The Persian name is gol-e-yax, which translates as "ice flower"

Leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs and appear woolly (tomentose). Flowering stalks of Edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm (in cultivation, up to 40 cm). Each bloom consisting of five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by bracts in star formation. The flowers are in bloom between July and September.

Canada - Wild Flowers of Ontario

FOUR WILD FLOWERS OF ONTARIO
upper left - WHITE TRILIUM (Trilium grandiflorum)
lower left - COLUMBINE (Aquilegia canadensis)
upper right - CALYPSO, FAIRLY SLIPPER (Calypso bulbosa)
lower right - YELLOW LADY'S SLIPPER (Cypripedium calceolus)

Sent by Barbara, a postcrosser from Ontario, Canada.

USA - Oregon - State Bird & State Flower

OREGON
State Symbols
The Western Meadowlark was chosen as Oregon's state bird by Oregon's school children, who were polled by the Oregon Audubon Society in 1927. The Oregon Grape was designated as Oregon's state flower by the Oregon Legislature in 1899.

Sent by Nancy, a postcrosser from Oregon, USA.

France - Flore Alpine

Flore Alpine (Alpine Flowers)

Sent by Fabrice, a postcrosser from France.

Estonia - National Flower

Blue Cornflower, the national flower of Estonia.

Sent by Daire, a postcrosser from Estonia.

This is from Wikipedia : Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower, Bachelor's button, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle, Cyani flower) is a small annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. "Cornflower" is also erroneously used for chicory, and more correctly for a few other Centaurea species; to distinguish C. cyanus from these it is sometimes called Common Cornflower. It may also be referred to as basketflower, though the term properly refers to the Plectocephalus group of Centaurea, which is probably a distinct genus.

It is an annual plant growing to 16-35 inches tall, with grey-green branched stems. The leaves are lanceolate, 1–4 cm long. The flowers are most commonly an intense blue colour, produced in flowerheads (capitula) 1.5–3 cm diameter, with a ring of a few large, spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The blue pigment is protocyanin, which in roses is red.

In the past it often grew as a weed in crop fields, hence its name (fields growing grains such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats were formerly known as "corn fields" in England). It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly over-use of herbicides, destroying its habitat; in the United Kingdom it has declined from 264 sites to just 3 sites in the last 50 years. In reaction to this, the conservation charity Plantlife named it as one of 101 species it would actively work to bring 'Back from the Brink'. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia.

Lady's-Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)

A lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus).

Sent by Irina, a postcrosser from Belarus.

This is from Wikipedia : Cypripedium calceolus is a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus Cypripedium.

It is a widespread plant worldwide, found from Europe east through Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is found in open woodland on moist calcareous soils. It is found in continental Europe growing in the decomposed humus of semi-shaded woodland cover on limestone. It has declined over much of the European part of its range, and as a result is legally protected in a number of countries.

In Britain it was formerly a reasonably widespread plant across northern England, particularly the limestone area of the Yorkshire Dales. By the late 20th century it had declined to just a single plant in one location in the dales. While the virtual extinction of the Lady's-slipper orchid from its historical range in Britain is often blamed on uprooting by gardeners and botanists, it is also the case that its preferred habitat shrunk markedly with human clearance of woodland from the limestone landscape, and the grazing of sheep will have finished it off. A reintroduction program for the Lady’s-slipper orchid is in place, and has led to a population of hundreds of plants as of 2003.

The Norwegian municipality of Snåsa has a Cypripedium calceolus in its coat-of-arms.

In Pavel Ivanovich Melnikov's "In the Forests", a znakharka (Russian wise woman) calls this Adam's head, Adam's grass, and Cuckoo's slippers and says it's good for every ill including driving away evil spirits.

Cypripedium calceolus sensu stricto ("in the strict sense") does not occur in North America. The closely related Cypripedium parviflorum and C. pubescens are often still referred to as subspecies or variety of C. calceolus.