So close photo of flowers beauty

The Fresh Cut

Flower of the Month Club

Flowers With a History
Scientists say there are over 270,000 species of flowers that have been documented and are living in the 21st Century. But scientists have yet to answer basic questions about these marvels of beauty... What led to their amazing diversity? Are there flowers that have not changed much during the evolution of this planet?

The first plant fossils found were woody magnolia-like plants dating back 93 million years. Paleobotanists have more recently uncovered tiny herb-like flower fossils dating back 120 million years. Flowering plants, called angiosperms by scientists, were believed to be already diverse and found in most locations by the middle of the Cretaceous period… 146 million years ago. A myriad of images of preserved flowers and flower parts [in very fine detail] have been found in fossils located in Sweden, Portugal, England, and along the Eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States. Below are a few brief histories of some of today’s best loved flowers.

1. The world’s smallest flower is the watermeal, which measures just 0.1mm across.

2. The world’s largest flower is the Rafflesia arnoldii, which can grow up to 3 feet across.

3. The most expensive flower is the Juliet rose, which sells for $15,800 per stem.

Flower symbolism dates back to ancient times. For example, in ancient Greece, roses were associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

8. In the Victorian era, flowers were a form of nonverbal communication. For example, a red rose means “I love you,” while a white rose signifies purity and innocence.

9. Flowers are an essential food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Flowers are also an essential source of nectar for birds. Some flowers have evolved specifically to attract bird pollinators.