Gardenia
Cape Jasmine
Common Gardenia
Scientific Name:
Gardenia jasminoides
Family:
Rubiaceae
Flower Language
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Refinement
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Elegance
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Bringing joy
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Cleanliness
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Secret love
Description
Gardenia is an evergreen shrub from the Rubiaceae family, native to Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu, Taiwan, China, and Indochina. During the rainy season from June to July, it produces large pure white 6-petaled flowers measuring 6-10cm in diameter with a strong fragrance. This fragrance makes it one of Japan's three great fragrant trees (along with Daphne and Osmanthus), and it's also used as a perfume ingredient. In autumn, it bears red-orange fruits that have been used since ancient times as yellow dye and coloring agents. The name 'kuchinashi' (meaning 'no mouth') comes from the fact that the fruit doesn't open.
Trivia
- Named 'kuchinashi' (no mouth) because fruits don't open
- One of Japan's three great fragrant trees
- Yellow color of chestnut kinton comes from gardenia fruit pigment
- Available in both single and double-flowered varieties
Uses
Ornamental
- Cultivation as decorative garden plant
- Use as cut flowers
- Use as tea ceremony flowers
Medicinal
- Fruits used as herbal medicine 'Sanshishi'
- Anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and hemostatic effects
- Used as gastrointestinal medicine
Caution:
Medicinal use requires professional knowledge
Culinary
- Fruits (as coloring agent)
Other
- Perfume ingredient
- Yellow dye production
- Natural food coloring agent
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Non-toxic (fruits safely used as food additives)
Safflower
Carthamus
False Saffron
Scientific Name:
Carthamus tinctorius
Family:
Asteraceae
Flower Language
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Special person
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Adornment
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Tolerance
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Makeup
Description
Safflower is an annual plant from the Asteraceae family, believed to originate from Egypt, Africa. It blooms yellow and orange flowers in early summer and has been used since ancient times as raw material for lipstick and rouge. High-quality safflower oil can be extracted from its seeds and used as cooking oil. In Japan, Yamagata Prefecture is famous as a production area, with cultivation flourishing since the Edo period. It is now the prefectural flower of Yamagata, and 'Mogami Benibana' has been recognized as a Japanese Agricultural Heritage.
Trivia
- Prefectural flower of Yamagata Prefecture
- Contained in Yomeishu medicinal sake
- Cultivation in Mogami River basin recognized as Japanese Agricultural Heritage
- Spread worldwide through the Silk Road
Uses
Ornamental
- Use as cut flowers
- Preservation as dried flowers
- Cultivation for flower bed coloring
Medicinal
- Blood circulation promotion as herbal medicine 'Kouka'
- Component of Chinese medicine
- Improvement of menstrual irregularities
Caution:
Avoid use during pregnancy
Culinary
- Seeds (as oil)
- Petals (as dye)
Other
- Raw material for lipstick and rouge
- Natural dye production
- Safflower oil production
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
Seeds (when consumed in large quantities)
Symptoms:
Should be avoided during pregnancy due to uterine contraction effects
Passion Flower
Passion Vine
Blue Crown Passion Flower
Scientific Name:
Passiflora caerulea
Family:
Passifloraceae
Description
Passion Flower is a climbing evergreen perennial from the Passifloraceae family, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Named for its three divided pistils resembling the hour, minute, and second hands of a clock, with petals arranged in a circle like a clock face. In the 16th century, Roman Catholic priests associated the flower's form with the Passion of Christ, giving it the name 'Passion.' Though it's a day flower that blooms in the morning and wilts at night, it produces flowers continuously for long-term enjoyment.
Trivia
- 'Passion' means 'suffering' not 'ardor' in this context
- Different species from passion fruit
- Day flowers but bloom continuously
- Can be easily propagated by cuttings
Uses
Ornamental
- Cultivation as climbing plant in gardens
- Fence and arch decoration
- Use as cut flowers
Medicinal
- Leaves used as herbal tea
- Sedative effects
- Anxiety relief
- Insomnia improvement
Caution:
Ornamental fruits are toxic and not edible
Culinary
Ornamental varieties' fruits not suitable for consumption
Other
- Herbal tea ingredient
- Natural therapy material
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Moderate
Toxic Parts:
Ornamental fruits, Roots
Symptoms:
Consuming ornamental variety fruits may cause gastrointestinal discomfort
Foxglove
Digitalis
Common Foxglove
Purple Foxglove
Scientific Name:
Digitalis purpurea
Family:
Plantaginaceae
Flower Language
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Insincerity
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Passionate love
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Hidden talent
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Undisguised love
Description
Foxglove is a biennial from the Plantaginaceae family, native to Europe, western to central Asia, and the Mediterranean coast. From May to July, it produces bell-shaped flowers in succession at the stem tips. The flowers have spots inside and come in various colors including purple, pink, and white. The scientific name derives from the Greek word for 'finger,' referring to the resemblance to finger gloves. While important as a heart medication plant, the entire plant is highly toxic and requires careful handling.
Trivia
- Source of digitoxin, a specific heart disease medicine
- Appears in Agatha Christie novels
- Also called fairy caps
- Treated as biennial in Japan due to heat sensitivity
Uses
Ornamental
- Cultivation as decorative garden plant
- Use as cut flowers
- Staple plant of cottage gardens
Medicinal
- Source of digitoxin for heart disease treatment
- Arrhythmia treatment
- Heart failure treatment
Caution:
Extremely poisonous plant, absolutely must not be used medicinally by amateurs
Culinary
Absolutely not suitable for culinary use
Other
- Pharmaceutical raw material
- Horticultural ornamental use
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Severe
Toxic Parts:
Entire plant, Especially leaves and seeds
Symptoms:
Gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, arrhythmia, headache, dizziness, possible death from cardiac arrest in severe cases