A Sea of Blue Trivia Quiz

Answer: root

Chicory is a common, hardy plant and it is related to the endive. You have likely seen it growing along roadsides at one point or another as its distinctive blue flowers are hard to miss. Despite having a bitter taste, most of the plant is edible. Its roots can be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute or additive.

Some people eat the leaves; their bitterness can be reduced by boiling.

Answer: scorpion grass

Forget-me-nots got their better-known name from the literal translation of the German word vergissmeinnicht. They are a very common genus and bear clusters of small flowers with five petals apiece. Forget-me-nots grow easily but prefer slightly damp and shady conditions.

Their seeds spread readily because they cling to fur and clothes. One species, Myosotis alpestris, is the state flower of Alaska, and is a common sight there.

Answer: Bhutan

The Himalayan blue poppy is the national flower of Bhutan, itself a part of the Himalayas, and the locals know it as Euitgel Metog Hoem. It was discovered after an early, failed attempt to climb Mt Everest, and can be found at high altitudes, above the tree line. Himalayan blue poppies are notoriously difficult to grow, and can only do so in cold environments. Cultivators at Longwood Gardens suggest that temperatures above 60 F (15 C) will cause the plant to slowly burn out.

Answer: myrtle

Not to be confused with the snail of the same name, the periwinkle is a common plant that was native to southern Europe and has been spread around a large part of the world. In the Americas, myrtle is a common alternate name for the plant. Periwinkle grows very well to the point that it is difficult to destroy; its hardiness does have the benefit of being able to control soil erosion.

Many of its extracts are being studied for medicinal purposes.

Answer: True

There are wild varieties of flax, but the common species that we use for products like linen and linseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) appears to be one that people domesticated from the pale flax. People have been cultivating flax for tens of thousands of years, and it was particularly well-used in Egypt, where linen was used to wrap mummies.

The relatively modern rise of cotton as a commercial crop has reduced the growth of flax plants, but it still has many uses and people also grow it as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Answer: aluminum

You've likely heard that using a rusty nail can change the pH of the soil and affect a hydrangea's flower color, but aluminum is the metal that actually causes the color difference. Some gardening sites suggest that aluminum sulfate can help turn the flowers blue, while fertilizers high in phosphates can turn them pink. Hydrangeas were originally native to eastern Asia and are a commonly cultivated, ornamental flower.

Answer: cornflower

The cornflower was a weed that grew among the grain fields of European flowers. Ironically enough, people have been highly effective at eradicating it with pesticides, and it is now very rare in its native range. Elsewhere, it has spread to large parts of the world and is not likely to die out any time soon.

It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant, and is edible too. Many European political parties have used the cornflower as a symbol.

Answer: lupine

The Texas bluebonnet is a type of lupin, native to and the state flower of Texas. Lupines in turn are a type of legume and with some preparation can be made edible. The striking color of the bluebonnet has made it much-loved and well-associated with Texas. Seeds are tough and can often take years to germinate, though alterations can help them germinate faster. Mutations have caused the bluebonnet to come in other colors, particularly white and pink.

Answer: sweet potato

Morning glory is a large, weedy, hard-to-miss flower that comes in a wide range of colors. It was first known in China, and developed into hundreds of varieties after being introduced to Japan. They can grow quickly and tolerate low-nutrient soil, often becoming a pest despite their large, striking flowers. Morning glories have been used in the past for laxatives, vulcanization of rubber, and even as a hallucinogen.

Answer: True

The Asiatic dayflower does indeed last for only about a day. Originally native to east Asia, it has been introduced to large parts of Europe and North America; it is considered a noxious weed outside of its native range. In its native range, it was used in traditional medicines as well as a dye.

Some research suggests that the Asiatic dayflower is good at accumulating metals and may be able to help clean land affected by bad mining processes.