Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower, Bachelor's button,
Basket flower, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle) is a small
annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe.
It is an annual plant growing to 40-90 cm 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.[1]
In the past it often grew as a weed in crop fields. 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.[2] 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.
Folklore and symbolism
In folklore, cornflowers were worn by young men in love; if the flower
faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was unrequited.
In herbalism a decoction of cornflower is effective in treating conjunctivitis,
and as a wash for tired eyes.
The Blue Cornflower has been the national flower of Estonia since 1968
and symbolizes daily bread to Estonians. It is also the symbol of the
Estonian political party, Rahvaliit, the Finnish political party, National
Coalition Party, and the Swedish political party, Liberal People's Party.
The Cornflower is also often seen as an inspiration for the romantic symbol
of the Blue Flower.
The Blue Cornflower was the favourite flower of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Because
of its ties to royalty, authors such as Theodor Fontane have used it,
often sarcastically, to comment the social and political climate of the
time.
In Austria it is a political symbol for pan-German and rightist ideas.
The Members of the Freedom Party wore it at 2005's Parliament Opening.
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