Floral Emblems of the World Quiz / Test | Flowers, Plants & Gardens

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Punica granatum' is a small fruit-bearing tree that was regarded as a symbol of prosperity and ambition by the Ancient Egyptians. The floral emblem of Libya, which fruit is produced by this tree?

Answer: Pomegranate

The pomegranate originated in the region now occupied by modern-day Iran and is now the official floral emblem of Libya. Widely cultivated today, pomegranate seeds are an excellent source of dietary fibre. The juice and peel of the pomegranate contains beneficial natural organic chemicals called polyphenols.

2. This flowering plant that is also sometimes known as a sugarbush is specially adaptive to survive wildfires, its thick stem containing dormant buds that produce new growth after the fire has passed. It is the national flower of South Africa, whose international cricket team play under its name. which plant species is this?

Answer: Protea

'Protea cynaroides' is the king protea (or giant protea), a flowering plant native to southern Africa. The national flower of South Africa, the cricketing equivalent of the country's rugby "Springboks" are known as "The Proteas". Known for their variety, the protea is named for Proteus, a Greek God who could change his form and appearance.

3. The spectacular but difficult to grow 'Meconopsis grandis' first appeared in the UK at the Royal Horticultural Society's 1926 spring show. Discovered by climbers on their way to challenge Everest, it is the official floral emblem of Bhutan. Which type of flower is this?

Answer: Poppy

The first Britain known to have come across 'Meconopsis grandis', known as the blue poppy, was mountaineer George Leigh Mallory during his failed attempt to climb Mount Everest in 1922. Indeed, many people today are still surprised to discover that poppies come in blue. This Himalayan species, which is the national flower of Bhutan, is not an opium producer.

4. 'Nelumbo nucifera' is an aquatic perennial whose seeds can remains viable for hundreds of years. Native to Queensland, Australia and parts of tropical Asia, it is the national floral emblem of both India and Vietnam. Which plant species is this?

Answer: Lotus

'Nelumbo nucifera', usually known as either the Indian lotus, the sacred lotus or the bean of India but often simply called the 'lotus', is the national floral emblem of both India and Vietnam. Often cultivated as part of a water garden, it is one of the world's most enduring species: seeds recovered from a dried lakebed in northeastern China and successfully germinated are believed to be 1,300 years old.

5. This is 'Anemone coronaria', a herbaceous perennial plant species native to the Mediterranean region. In 2013, it was chosen to replace the Persian cyclamen as the official floral emblem of Israel. By what western European-sounding name is it sometimes known?

Answer: Spanish Marigold

'Anemone coronaria' is another species from the poppy family, the poppy anemone, which is also known as the Spanish marigold. It grows wild throughout Palestine, Jordan and Israel, and the latter of those countries adopted it as their national flower in 2013.

6. This particular species was named after a 19th-century German doctor, botanist and traveller. Unlike many other related species, which flower in early spring, this large shrub waits until summer. Native to eastern Asia, it is the official floral emblem of North Korea. What type of plant is this?

Answer: Magnolia

'Magnolia sieboldii' (Siebold's magnolia) was named after the German Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866). Also known as Oyama magnolia, it is the official flower of North Korea. Often grown as an ornamental tree in gardens, this is one of the hardiest magnolia species and has been cultivated in harsh environments as far north as Finland.

7. 'Cassia fistula' is a flowering plant popular in ornamental gardens that is also used in herbal medicine. It is both the national tree and produces the national flower of Thailand. What type of plant is this?

Answer: Golden Shower Tree

Usually called the golden shower tree, 'Cassia fistula' is also known as the purging cassia and the Indian laburnum. Native to southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, it is the national tree of Thailand. Its yellow flowers are also that same country's national flower and the symbol of Thai royalty. Elsewhere in Asia, it is also the state flower of Kerala in southwestern India.

8. Sometimes called the bluebottle, 'Centaurea cyanus' is a flowering plant native to Europe. It has become endangered by habitat loss due to the use of herbicides. Symbolizing the 'daily bread' to local people, in 1968 it became the official floral emblem of Estonia. What type of plant is this?

Answer: Cornflower

Known as the cornflower, bachelor's button, hurtsickle or cyani flower, 'Centaurea cyanus' was originally viewed as a weed in the agricultural fields of its native Europe (hence the name cornflower). In Estonia, it is not only the national flower but also the symbol of the People's Union political party.

In Scandinavia, the blue cornflower is a symbol of social liberalism and has been adopted as the official emblem of the Liberal People's Party in Sweden and the National Coalition Party in Finland.

In the UK, it is the official school flower of both Winchester College and Dulwich College.

9. Native to North Africa, flowers from the pictured 'Iberis gibraltarica' range from pale violet to almost white. Part of the mustard and cabbage family, this is the official national emblem of Gibraltar, the only place in Europe where it can be found growing naturally. What type of plant is this?

Answer: Candytuft

'Iberis gibraltarica', the Gibraltar candytuft, can be found growing wild in abundance in the crevices in the limestone rock that forms the north face of the Rock of Gibraltar. The official floral emblem of the British territory, it was featured on Gibraltar's coinage in the 1980s.

10. Our final species is a tree native to northern South America and the Caribbean. A particularly slow-growing tree, it produces bright-yellow-orange fruit with red flesh and black seeds in addition to its striking blue flowers. The national floral emblem of Jamaica, which type of tree produces this flower?

Answer: Guaiacwood

Commonly known as guaiacwood or roughbark lignum-vitae, 'Guaiacum officinale' is the official floral emblem of Jamaica. It is part of the caltrop family of trees that have adapted to grow is dry climates where few other plant species can survive. Use of its valuable strong, tough and dense wood as well as various medicinal products has placed it in the endangered category.

Source: Author EnglishJedi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Floral Emblems of the World Trivia Quiz

Many countries have adopted floral emblems. Can you identify the country from the photograph of the chosen plant?

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