|
|
Blue Button
 |
| Photo Information |
Copyright: Lori Cannon (LCannon)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 374 W: 137 N: 804]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (3107) |
| Genre: Plants |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-06-06 |
| Categories: Flowers |
| Camera: Kodak Easyshare LS753 |
| Exposure: f/3.0, 1/500 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-06-07 11:38 |
| Viewed: 2875 |
| Points: 4 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I took this photo of a Bachelor Button on the trail to Tom McCall point at the Tom McCall nature preserve. I don't usually add a frame to my flower photos, but thought this photo needed a little something with the dull brown background, perhaps I was wrong, but I love the color of this small flower.
Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus) also known as Cornflower
From Wikipedia: (Wow...I didn't know so much about this flower!)
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.
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 year. 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.
Cornflowers are often used as an ingredient in tea and is famous in the Lady Grey blend of Twinings.
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, 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.
The Cornflower is the national flower of Poland. |
SkyF, Janice has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
