National Flowers from Around the World Quiz

Answer: Iris

The pictured flower is the black iris (Iris nigricans), Jordan's national flower.
The flowers are 4-6 inches in diameter and the plants grow to just over a foot high. Eight other iris species are also native to Jordan, notably the German iris which has purple flowers.

Answer: Poppy

Bhutan's national flower is the blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis), a notoriously difficult plant to grow from seed. This is a different species, although closely related, to the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia), discovered in 1912, which is a hardy perennial that is now commonly grown in Britain.

Answer: Jasmine

There are more than 200 species of Jasmine, and all are part of the olive family. The national flower of Pakistan is poet's jasmine (Jasminum officinale), which is also known as jessamine or common jasmine. A vigorous climber with sharply pointed leaves, poet's jasmine produces clusters of starry, pure white, very fragrant flowers in the summer months.

Known as 'The King of Oils' it is also used as an essential oil in aromatherapy.

Answer: Rhododendron

Rhododendron, from the Ancient Greek meaning 'rose tree' is part of the heath family of evergreen or deciduous shrubs containing more than 1,000 species.
The national flower of Nepal is the tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum). Usually growing to a height of around 36 feet with a similar spread, this plant holds the "Guinness World Record" for the largest Rhododendron at almost 70 feet. The flowers, which appear in the early- to mid-spring, can be either red, white or pink.

Answer: Orchid

Commonly known as the dove orchid or the holy ghost orchid, Peristeria elata produces intense, marble-white color flowers. Native to the very humid, mountain forests of Panama, it grows on the lower levels of mature, moss-covered trees. It was adopted as the national flower of Panama in 1980.

Answer: Chamomile

The chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) gives off a smell similar to apples, which is probably why the plant's name derives from the Greek for 'earth apple'. Native throughout Europe and temperate regions of Asia, it is commonly found along roadsides.
Chamomile is often drunk as a herbal tea. It is considered a remedy for numerous gastro-related ailments and it is also used as a sleep aid. It can also be used to enhance the color of blonde hair.

Answer: Buttercup

The marsh-marigold or kingcup (Caltha palustris) is one of the most ancient native plants found in the UK, having flourished in marshy areas created by glacial runoff. It is one of around 1,700 species in the buttercup (or crowfoot) family. Like many members of the Ranunculaceae family, all parts of the marsh-marigold are poisonous, producing irritation and skin rashes.

Answer: Carnation

The sweetly-scented carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is naturally bright pinkish-purple although it has also been cultivated to produce red, white, yellow and green flowers. The national flower of Spain and Monaco, it is also one of two national emblems of Slovenia along with the linden leaf tree.

It is also the provincial flower of the Balearic Islands and the state flower of Ohio. Carnations are often worn on Mothers' Day and at weddings. In many countries, red carnations are worn on May Day as a symbol of the labor movement. Green carnations, famously worn by Oscar Wilde, are worn on Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland and have recently become a symbol of homosexuality.

At Oxford University, carnations are traditionally worn to examinations.

Answer: Pea

The cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli) is a flowering tree in the pea family. A relatively small tree, it usually grows to a height of between 16 and 26 feet. An irregular, woody trunk supports spindly branches that produce symmetrical bunches of red flowers every summer.

Answer: Dahlia

A member of the daisy family, there are 36 natural species of dahlia with other variants grown as hybrids. Their flowers have no scent and, like most plants of this type, they must therefore attract pollinators with bright colors. Indeed, they come in just about every color except blue.

Dahlia are prey for slugs, snails and even earwigs. They are also a prime source of food for the larvae of numerous moths and butterflies.

A form of fruit sugar extracted from dahlia tubers was used to treat diabetes and consumption before the discovery of insulin, and is still used today for testing kidney function.