Blossom
In
Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as well. Peach blossoms (including nectarine), most cherry blossoms, and some almond blossoms are usually pink. Plum blossoms, apple blossoms, orange blossoms, some cherry blossoms, and most almond blossoms are white.[1]
Blossoms provide pollen to pollinators such as bees, and initiate cross-pollination necessary for the trees to reproduce by producing fruit.[2]
Herbal use
The ancient Phoenicians used almond blossoms with honey and urine as a tonic, and sprinkled them into stews and gruels to give muscular strength. Crushed petals were also used as a poultice on skin spots and mixed with banana oil, for dry skin and sunburn.[3]
In herbalism the
Descending from China and south east Asia, the earliest orange species moved westwards via the trade routes.[5]
In 17th century Italy peach blossoms were made into a poultice for bruises, rashes, eczema, grazes and stings.[6]
In
Blossom festivals
Hanami (花見, "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; in this case almost always refer to those of the cherry (桜, sakura) or, less frequently, plum (梅, ume) trees.[8]
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the National Trust organises the environmental awareness campaign #BlossomWatch, which is designed to raise awareness of the first signs of Spring, by encouraging people to share images of blossoms via social media.[9]
Gallery
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Blackthornin blossom
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Apple blossoms in full bloom.
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Pear blossoms in full bloom.
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Plum blossoms in full bloom.
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Peach blossoms in full bloom.
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Crabappleblossoms.
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Lemon blossoms.
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Strawberry blossoms.
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Blackberry blossoms.
See also
References
- ^ Anna-Louise Taylor; Ben Aviss (13 March 2012). "What is Britain's best blossom?". BBC Nature.
- ISBN 978-1-60469-190-0. Archived from the originalon 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ISBN 978-0-86486-467-3.
- ISBN 978-0-86486-467-3.
- ISBN 978-0-86486-467-3.
- ISBN 978-0-86486-467-3.
- ISBN 978-0-86486-467-3.
- ISBN 0-8048-2056-2.
hanami.
- ^ "Blossom watch day: National Trust urges UK to share blooms". the Guardian. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
External links
- Blossom in other languages.
- Millais, John Everett. Apple blossoms. Lady Lever Art Gallery.
- "In Pictures: Your blossoming spring". BBC Nature.