The Dictionary of flowers

Acacia:
Originated in Madagascar, but now cultivated nearly everywhere around the world. The most dominant colours are red, orange and yellow. They may vary in form from place to place. Sometimes the flower is a globular mass and sometimes with intricate petals.

The species is also known as Delonix regia and its seeds (in long flat pods) are quite large.

Usually, sending acacias suggests a gesture of friendship. Getting a gift of yellow acacias is a hint of love.

Alyssum:
This honey-scented flower is a favourite not only of bees and butterflies but also of humans. Which means: if you want to begin a ‘birds-&-bees’ story with someone you love, then this is the flower to gift. This sweetly scented flower blooms throughout summer and is a very pretty plant. The plant blooms in small pillows of multiple tiny flowers.

Ambrosia:
This is a monoecious plant, which means it is unisexual or having flowers of both sexes on the same plant, as in corn or pine. The bloom is plentiful including tiny (3mm) male flowers which are distinguished by their yellowish green discs; the female flower is whitish-green and inconspicuously grows in the leaf axils, below the male flowers. Also, unlike dandelions and thistles, this plant has no pappus (a calyx of tiny, bristly down).

Amethyst:
Sending a bouquet of amethyst says that you admire the recipient. It is therefore ideal as a congratulatory message to someone who wins a match, gets promotion, achieves some kind of new record, gets a huge new contract, etc.

Bachelor's Buttons:
According to folklore, when this flower first bloomed on earth it was pure white. One day it was struck by Cupid’s arrow and has since lost its pristine whiteness. It is now available in different colours, the purple one being most popular. It represents hope in love.

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