November 12

Birth Flower

Lemon
Citrus Lemon Common Lemon

Scientific Name: Citrus limon
Family: Rutaceae

Flower Language

  • heartfelt longing
  • fragrance
  • faithful in love
  • sincere love
  • enthusiasm

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Trivia

  • The name 'lemon' is believed to derive from Persian 'limu'
  • A single tree can yield 200-600 fruits per year
  • Lemon flower fragrance comes from compound called linalool
  • World's largest lemon weighed 5.265kg on record

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden tree for flowers and fragrance
  • Potted plant for indoor decoration
  • Cut flowers for fragrance
  • Bonsai cultivation
Medicinal
  • Cold prevention through vitamin C supplementation
  • Anti-aging through antioxidant properties
  • Digestive aid
  • Antibacterial and antimicrobial effects

Caution: High acidity may damage tooth enamel; excessive consumption can burden the stomach

Culinary
  • Fruit
  • Peel
  • Leaves
Other
  • Used in cosmetics and soaps as fragrance
  • Industrial source of citric acid
  • Natural detergent and bleaching agent
  • Insect repellent properties

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Peel (essential oil)

Symptoms: May cause skin irritation or phototoxic dermatitis

Elatior Begonia
Rieger Begonia Winter-flowering Begonia

Scientific Name: Begonia ×elatior
Family: Begoniaceae

Flower Language

  • unrequited love
  • happy days
  • declaration of love
  • kindness
  • fairness
  • politeness
  • prosperity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Trivia

  • Single plant can produce over 100 flowers
  • Varieties developed by German Rieger company first became popular
  • Waxy petals with glossy finish have good keeping quality
  • Flowering time can be controlled through photoperiod treatment

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants (indoor decoration)
  • Gift potted flowers
  • Central material for mixed plantings
  • Balcony gardening
Medicinal
  • Psychological healing through ornamental viewing
  • Indoor air purification

Caution: Avoid ingestion due to oxalic acid content

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption (contains toxic compounds)

Other
  • Educational material for horticulture
  • Research material for breeding
  • Indoor humidity regulation

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: All parts, Especially stems and leaves

Symptoms: Oxalic acid may cause mouth irritation, vomiting, and dermatitis

Fortune's Saxifrage
Japanese Saxifrage Daimonji Saxifrage

Scientific Name: Saxifraga fortunei
Family: Saxifragaceae

Flower Language

  • freedom
  • favor
  • passion
  • modest beauty
  • moderation

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'fortunei' derives from botanist Robert Fortune
  • Petal length varies greatly among individuals and even flowers on same plant
  • Has strong vitality, growing in rock crevices with minimal soil
  • Distributed in all 47 prefectures of Japan

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wild plant gardening
  • Rock gardens
  • Potted cultivation
  • Tea ceremony flowers
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for fever reduction
  • External medicine for skin conditions
  • Used as cough suppressant

Caution: Avoid medicinal use without expert knowledge

Culinary

Not commonly used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Used as wild plant for ecosystem restoration
  • Educational plant specimens
  • Subject for nature observation

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Japanese Silver Leaf
Farfugium Leopard Plant

Scientific Name: Farfugium japonicum
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • not defeated by difficulties
  • modesty
  • unharmed by hardship

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Trivia

  • Scientific name Farfugium means 'shining from afar'
  • Leaf glossiness protects from salt damage from sea winds
  • Single flower stem bears 20-30 flower heads
  • Many cultivars have been developed since Edo period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ground cover in gardens
  • Coastal garden plantings
  • Potted cultivation
  • Cut flower use
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for fever reduction
  • Treatment for external injuries
  • Effective as cough suppressant

Caution: Avoid medicinal use without expert knowledge

Culinary
  • Young leaf stalks
Other
  • Used for coastal landscaping
  • Utilized in ecosystem restoration
  • Wind and sand protection effects

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Raw leaves, Unprocessed leaf stalks

Symptoms: Strong bitter compounds may cause digestive symptoms if consumed raw

Wax Flower
Geraldton Wax Chamelaucium

Scientific Name: Chamelaucium uncinatum
Family: Myrtaceae

Flower Language

  • delicacy
  • whimsy
  • loveliness
  • unnoticed virtues
  • happy marriage

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Trivia

  • About 21 species of Chamelaucium genus native to Australia
  • Can be enjoyed as cut flowers for 2-3 weeks
  • Waxy petals are adaptation to prevent water evaporation
  • Citrus-like fragrance from leaves due to essential oils

Uses

Ornamental