Meaning:
Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol
of Womanhood
Azaleas are flowering shrubs making up part of
the genus Rhododendron. Originally azaleas were classed as a different
genus of plant, but now they are recognised as two of the eight sub-genera
of rhododendrons - subgenus Pentanthera (deciduous), and subgenus Titsushi
(evergreen).
One major difference between azaleas and the rest of the rhododendron
family is their size. Another is their flower growth; rhododendrons grow
their flowers in stripers, while most azaleas have terminal blooms (one
flower per flower stem). However, they have so many stems that during
the flowering season they are a solid mass of colour. Azaleas are recognised
by these flowers blooming all at once, in a showy display for a month
or two in spring. The exception to this rule is a small group of azaleas
which grow their flowers in tight terminal clusters.
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A flower, also known
as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering
plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms).
The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male
sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds.
