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Quiz about Christmas Plants
Quiz about Christmas Plants

Christmas Plants! Trivia Quiz


Many different plants are used to symbolize Christmas in different parts of the world. Can you correctly match the plant with its description?

A matching quiz by ponycargirl. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
ponycargirl
Time
3 mins
Type
Match Quiz
Quiz #
384,993
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
9 / 10
Plays
1314
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (10/10), Guest 207 (6/10), gmulloon (10/10).
(a) Drag-and-drop from the right to the left, or (b) click on a right side answer box and then on a left side box to move it.
QuestionsChoices
1. Evergreen creeping plant, in family "Araliaceae"  
  Holly
2. Parasitic plant found in trees and shrubs, in family "Santalaceae"  
  Poinsettia
3. Plant with glossy leaves and sharp spines, from the family "Aquifoliaceae" and genus "Ilex aquifolium"  
  Evergreen Tree
4. Plant from Mexico with star-shaped leaves, from family "Euphorbiaceae", species "E. pulcherrima"  
  Rosemary
5. Plant with seasonal long, hanging blooms, member of "Cactaceae" family  
  Pomegranate
6. Fir, spruce, pine, balsam plant, from division "Coniferophyta"  
  Radish
7. Perennial herb plant, native to the Mediterranean area, from family "Lamiaceae"  
  Ivy
8. Plant derived from flowering bulb, from order "Asparagales"  
  Amaryllis
9. Tree or shrub plant in Middle East that bears fruit, from order "Myrtales"  
  Christmas Cactus
10. Root vegetable plant used in celebration in Mexico, from the "Brassicaceae" family  
  Mistletoe





Select each answer

1. Evergreen creeping plant, in family "Araliaceae"
2. Parasitic plant found in trees and shrubs, in family "Santalaceae"
3. Plant with glossy leaves and sharp spines, from the family "Aquifoliaceae" and genus "Ilex aquifolium"
4. Plant from Mexico with star-shaped leaves, from family "Euphorbiaceae", species "E. pulcherrima"
5. Plant with seasonal long, hanging blooms, member of "Cactaceae" family
6. Fir, spruce, pine, balsam plant, from division "Coniferophyta"
7. Perennial herb plant, native to the Mediterranean area, from family "Lamiaceae"
8. Plant derived from flowering bulb, from order "Asparagales"
9. Tree or shrub plant in Middle East that bears fruit, from order "Myrtales"
10. Root vegetable plant used in celebration in Mexico, from the "Brassicaceae" family

Most Recent Scores
Oct 18 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 207: 6/10
Oct 16 2024 : gmulloon: 10/10
Oct 15 2024 : SUBVETSTEVE: 10/10
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 100: 10/10
Oct 03 2024 : elbowmacaroni2: 10/10
Sep 28 2024 : Allons-y: 8/10
Sep 23 2024 : Guest 192: 10/10
Sep 15 2024 : psnz: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Evergreen creeping plant, in family "Araliaceae"

Answer: Ivy

Many ancient peoples have seen some sort of significance in ivy. The Romans believed it symbolized Bacchus, their god of wine, while the ancient Greeks presented it to newly married couples as a symbol of fidelity. Evergreen ivy is especially resistant to frost, and lives for quite a long while.

While Christians used holly to represent Christ, ivy was used to represent the Virgin Mary, as it symbolizes her eternity, as well as her complete faithfulness to God.
2. Parasitic plant found in trees and shrubs, in family "Santalaceae"

Answer: Mistletoe

The ancient Druids would hang mistletoe in their homes to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Norsemen used the plant as a sign of love and friendship (after Loki tricked Hodur into murdering Balder with an arrow made of mistletoe). Scandanavia is likely to have been the area where "kissing under the mistletoe" originated. Because of the pagan meaning and usage, it took a while for the Christian church to agree to its use as a symbol. During the Middle Ages, the plant was associated with fertility, and it eventually became a good excuse for young men and women to sneak a kiss!
3. Plant with glossy leaves and sharp spines, from the family "Aquifoliaceae" and genus "Ilex aquifolium"

Answer: Holly

Often called "Christ's thorn", the use of holly, which maintains its colors in the winter, to symbolize eternal life and protection from evil spirits, dates all the way back to the ancient Druids, who even wore it in their hair! It was adopted by Christians as a symbol of Christ; the red berries represent the blood of Jesus, and the sharp spines depict the crown of thorns.

The shape of the leaves, believed to resemble flames, also represents God's burning love.
4. Plant from Mexico with star-shaped leaves, from family "Euphorbiaceae", species "E. pulcherrima"

Answer: Poinsettia

Displaying the perfect Christmas colors, the poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. The star-shaped pattern of the leaves is said to represent the Star of Bethlehem. Interestingly, the plant was also important to the Aztecs, who used it for red dye, and as a medicine to reduce fevers.
5. Plant with seasonal long, hanging blooms, member of "Cactaceae" family

Answer: Christmas Cactus

Although it appears that a Christmas cactus flowers at Christmas, it actually blooms between Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States. There are many "Cactaceae" species that are sold as Christmas cacti, so the blooms, which are said to resemble hanging Christmas ornaments, come in a variety of colors.

A houseplant that is relatively easy to grow and maintain, a Christmas cactus does require special care if the blooms are to be enjoyed every year. Proper light exposure, correct temperatures and limited watering during the months of September and October are said to be the key to enjoying the beautiful plant.
6. Fir, spruce, pine, balsam plant, from division "Coniferophyta"

Answer: Evergreen Tree

An evergreen tree, either cut or growing, has been the center of Christmas celebrations since - well Roman times, when the celebration was called the Saturnalia. Romans would decorate tress where they grew with red and purple ribbons, as well as fruit, but they would also bring evergreen boughs into their homes, looking forward to spring after the long winter solstice.

The ancient Celtic peoples held many of the native evergreen trees as sacred; the cedar tree was called the "Tree of Life", and the pine tree was "the sweetest in the woods".

The first documented use of evergreen trees as Christmas trees was recorded in1441, in Tallinn, Estonia.
7. Perennial herb plant, native to the Mediterranean area, from family "Lamiaceae"

Answer: Rosemary

While you might not associate rosemary with Christmas, there is a story that the plant is included in nativity scenes in the Mediterranean. According to legend, the clothes of Baby Jesus were dried on a rosemary bush; Christians believe that it is good luck to smell rosemary at Christmas, and bushes in some areas are pruned and sold to look like Christmas trees.
8. Plant derived from flowering bulb, from order "Asparagales"

Answer: Amaryllis

An amaryllis is a beautiful flowering bulb that will bloom for Christmas if potted in early to mid-November. Also called the Christmas lily, an amaryllis bloom will last for quite a long time if given proper care. Consequently it has become the symbol of success, and because the bulb can last for seventy-five years, it is also the symbol of prosperity.

Although there is a story from Greek mythology about the lovely shepherd woman, Amaryllis, who fell in love with a man who loved only flowers, it became a popular houseplant in Victorian times.
9. Tree or shrub plant in Middle East that bears fruit, from order "Myrtales"

Answer: Pomegranate

A symbol of prosperity and ambition for the ancient Egyptians, pomegranate was "the fruit of the dead" to the ancient Greeks. To the ancient Hebrews, pomegranates were symbols that the promised land was indeed fertile, and it is said that even Solomon's Temple was decorated with carvings of the fruit. Pomegranates because an important symbol used by Italian artists during Renaissance; the fruit burst open is a symbol of the suffering and resurrection of Christ.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, however, the fruit is used to symbolize the sweetness of the heaven. Today in the Middle East, the pomegranate is the symbol of prosperity.
10. Root vegetable plant used in celebration in Mexico, from the "Brassicaceae" family

Answer: Radish

The Night of the Radishes (Noche de Rábanos) is celebrated in Oaxaca, Mexico on December 23, as part of its annual Christmas celebration. Large radishes are carved by competitors to make scenes that are then judged. It is estimated that in 2014, approximately twelve tons of radishes were used in the event; the plants are locally grown in Oaxaca. Traditionally the nativity scene carved out of radishes was a common entry, however, there are no particular rules as to what type of themed display can be entered.
Source: Author ponycargirl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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