October 09

Birth Flower

Eucharis
Amazon Lily Amazon Narcissus

Scientific Name: Eucharis grandiflora
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • pure heart
  • elegance
  • innocence
  • pure love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Eucharis is a bulbous plant from the Amaryllidaceae family native to the Andean highlands of Central to South America. The scientific name Eucharis derives from Greek 'eu (good)' and 'charis (attractive),' expressing its beautiful flower form. It has broad leaves like Hosta and produces 3-6 pure white flowers facing slightly downward at the stem tip. Flowers are 8-10cm in diameter with six petals, featuring a beautiful corona in the center and fragrant. It forms flower buds when temperatures of 25-30°C continue for over 4 weeks, blooming several times a year under suitable conditions. Introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, it's highly valued for wedding bouquets, representing the bride's beauty.

Trivia

  • Became famous in Japan after Seiko Matsuda used it in her wedding bouquet
  • Despite being called 'Amazon Lily,' it's from Andean highlands, not Amazon basin
  • Has unique property of requiring sustained high temperatures to bloom
  • Single bulb can bloom 2-3 times per year under ideal conditions

Uses

Ornamental
  • Premium flower for wedding bouquets
  • Indoor potted plants for fragrance enjoyment
  • Star of luxury floral arrangements
Medicinal
  • Used for sedative effects in South American traditional medicine
  • Folk medicine for headache relief

Caution: Bulbs may contain alkaloids; consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Essential oil extraction for perfume production
  • Fragrance component in luxury soaps
  • Aromatherapy for relaxation effects

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Bulb, Stem

Symptoms: May contain Amaryllidaceae alkaloids that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested.

Golden Lace
Patrinia Yellow Patrinia

Scientific Name: Patrinia scabiosifolia
Family: Caprifoliaceae

Flower Language

  • promise
  • beauty
  • fleeting love
  • kindness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Patrinia is a perennial from the Caprifoliaceae family distributed in Japan, Korean Peninsula, China, and eastern Siberia, beloved as one of the seven autumn flowers. The scientific name Patrinia honors French botanist Patrin, while the species name scabiosifolia means 'having leaves like Scabiosa.' Growing to about 1m tall, it produces numerous small yellow flowers in corymbs at stem tips from August to October. The flowers have a distinctive fragrance and appear in 14 poems in Manyoshu, as well as in Kokin Wakashu, The Tale of Genji, and many other classical literature works. The name means 'overwhelming even beautiful women with its beauty,' making it synonymous with feminine beauty. The rhizome is used as the herbal medicine 'haisho.'

Trivia

  • Featured in 14 Manyoshu poems, the highest count among autumn flowers
  • Name means 'beauty that overwhelms even women'
  • Officially selected as one of seven autumn flowers by Yamanoue no Okura
  • Used as synonym for feminine beauty in Heian period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Representative plant of autumn flower beds
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Autumn ikebana arrangements
Medicinal
  • Rhizome used as 'haisho' for drainage and anti-inflammation
  • Folk medicine for diuretic effects
  • Traditional use for sedative effects

Caution: Medicinal use requires proper guidance from qualified practitioners.

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Nectar source for beekeeping
  • Yellow dye source
  • Material for pressed flower crafts

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Fennel
Sweet Fennel Florence Fennel

Scientific Name: Foeniculum vulgare
Family: Apiaceae

Flower Language

  • praise
  • strength
  • worthiness
  • reaching higher

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Fennel is a perennial herb from the Apiaceae family native to the Mediterranean region. The scientific name Foeniculum means 'little hay' in Latin. Growing 1.5-2m tall, it's characterized by finely divided feathery compound leaves. In summer, it produces small yellow flowers in compound umbels with sweet anise-like fragrance. Seeds, leaves, and stems are all utilized, with seeds particularly used as spice and leaves as culinary herbs. Valued as medicinal herb since ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times, it was also used as protective charm in medieval Europe. Still cultivated worldwide today, it's essential in Mediterranean cuisine.

Trivia

  • Ancient Olympic victors were crowned with fennel wreaths
  • Greek place name 'Marathon' means 'field of fennel'
  • Valued as evil spirit-repelling herb in medieval Europe
  • One of the ingredients used in absinthe production

Uses

Ornamental
  • Background planting in herb gardens
  • Cut flowers for fragrance enjoyment
  • Suitable for dried flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • Herbal tea for digestive aid
  • Folk medicine for promoting lactation
  • Traditional use for antispasmodic effects

Caution: Avoid large quantities during pregnancy and breastfeeding. May cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Culinary
  • Seeds
  • Leaves
  • Stems
  • Roots
Other
  • Essential oil for perfumes and aromatherapy
  • Natural insect repellent
  • Fragrance component in soaps and cosmetics

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Essential oil, Large quantities of seeds

Symptoms: Large quantities may affect the nervous system. Essential oil requires particular caution.

Toad Lily
Japanese Toad Lily Tricyrtis

Scientific Name: Tricyrtis hirta
Family: Liliaceae

Flower Language

  • forever yours
  • hidden will
  • indomitable spirit
  • modesty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Toad Lily is a perennial from the Liliaceae family native to Japan. The scientific name Tricyrtis derives from Greek 'tri (three)' and 'cyrtos (curved),' referring to the three curved outer tepals. Growing 50-100cm tall, it blooms 6-petaled white flowers with purple spots from September to October. Named for the spotted pattern resembling the breast markings of the cuckoo bird (hototogisu in Japanese). Native to semi-shaded areas in mountains throughout Japan, preferring moist locations. Flowers bloom upward-facing with distinctive form and beautiful spots, popular as autumn tea ceremony flowers. Recently, numerous garden varieties have been developed, gaining attention as ornamental plants.

Trivia

  • Named for flower spots resembling cuckoo bird breast markings
  • Scientific name 'Tricyrtis' refers to three curved outer tepals
  • Valued as 'representative autumn tea flower' in tea ceremony
  • Recently developed garden varieties offer diverse flower colors

Uses

Ornamental
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Colorful shade garden plants
  • Autumn ikebana arrangements
Medicinal
  • Rhizome used as medicinal herb in China
  • Folk medicine for fever reduction

Caution: Medicinal use requires proper guidance from qualified practitioners.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Material for pressed flower crafts
  • Educational material for nature observation
  • Nectar source for wildlife

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported