Background

Each of the 50 states has designated an official flower to represent the state and its people. The flowers were chosen for many different reasons. State flowers may be:

Some states share a flower. For example, the violet is the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin (although different species of the violet are recognized). Dogwoods, magnolias, rhododendrons, apple blossoms, and roses also make multiple appearances on the list.

To prepare you for this month's lessons (Flower Dissection and Know Your State Flower), here's some background science and history.

The Botany of Flowers
Maine’s state flower — the white pine cone and tassel — isn’t a flower at all, according to botanists. In the botany world, the plant kingdom is divided into a number of different divisions. Two of the largest divisions are the gymnosperms (also classified as Coniferophyta, or conifers, like the white pine) and the angiosperms (also referred to as Magnoliophyta, or flowering plants).

One of the main differences between these two plant divisions is their flowering structures. Gymnosperms produce seeds inside of cones and angiosperms produce seeds inside of flowers. Speaking botanically, since the white pine is a conifer, Maine's state flower really isn't a flower at all!

Male cones of a pine tree — a gymnosperm

Stamens and pistil of an asiatic lily — an angiosperm

Flowers vary greatly in appearance, but they do possess parts that define them as flowers: petals, sepals, one or more pistils (female reproductive structures that contains ovules, or eggs), and stamens (male reproductive structures that produce pollen). Click here for a line drawing illustration of a flower. The typical flower — what botanists refer to as perfect flowers — contains both male and female parts within each flower. The pistils and stamens vary in size, shape and number, but with a little bit of investigation, you can identify them in the field!

Is this a male or female squash flower? (Hint: Do you see a baby fruit?)

What about flowers that don’t have all the parts listed above? Some plants have adapted specialized flowers as they’ve evolved over millennia. For instance, some plants produce separate flowers that have only male or only female structures, but both types of flowers grow on the same plant (e.g., begonias, squash). Others produce separate male and female flowers on separate plants. Have you ever had a holly bush with flowers but never found any berries? Holly shrubs can produce either male or female flowers but not both, and only the female flowers produce the fruit. Therefore if you get flowers but no berries, you either have a male holly or a female that didn’t have a compatible male plant to provide pollen (although in nature, there are always exceptions — some female holly plants produce berries without the help of pollen).

Why Are There Flowers?
All flowers share the same purpose. Is it to look pretty? Nope. Flowers are here to produce seeds. Flower characteristics evolved to attract pollinators or to otherwise encourage pollen to reach pistils and fertilize the ovules, which will become seeds. The result may be a pleasant fragrance or an attractive appearance that lures bees and birds to visit, but there are other adaptations too: The Stapelia flower emits the smell of a rotting carcass to attract flies to help distribute its pollen! Other flowers may be adapted to spread pollen by wind (e.g., corn) or by water (e.g., Elodea, an aquatic plant).

Check out these related articles from Kidsgardening.com:
Flower Courtship
The Secret Life of Flowers

Common lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire

The Meaning of State Flowers
State flowers are symbols, and you can often discover their meaning by investigating why they were chosen. For example, according to New Hampshire state historian Leon Anderson, the purple lilac received designation because it "is symbolic of that hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State" (found in a book titled Flower—Tree—Bird and also online). So in New Hampshire, the state flower is a symbol of the character of its residents. The flowers may relate state history, a feeling of state pride, or even stimulate memories for residents. To discover the story behind your state's flower, check out these Web sites: E-referencedesk, 50 States, and Netstate or visit your state’s main Web site.

Using flowers as symbols isn't something reserved just for states. Flowers have been used as symbols and given meanings throughout history, and this is often referred to as the “language of flowers.” Two examples are daisies as a symbol of innocence and purity, and roses as a symbol of love. There are many books and Web sites detailing this language, including the FTD Web site.

Related Lessons to Explore
For activity ideas to incorporate state flower-related science, math, English, and history lessons in your classroom, explore Flower Dissection and Know Your State Flower.

State Flower Poster Contest
Also, read about the Draw Your State Flower National Contest from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Elementary school-aged children (K-6) are invited to draw and submit pictures of their state flower. This national contest is designed to increase appreciation for state flowers, and to raise awareness of the new National Garden in Washington D.C. One winner will be selected from each state. Winners will receive cash prizes, and their entries will be displayed at the National Garden, adjacent to the U.S. Botanic Garden adjacent to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The deadline for entries is November 1, 2005. For more details and entry guidelines, visit the Scotts Web site.

Copyright© 2005 National Gardening Association