Chrysanthemum

Mums are pretty flowers.

They bloom in the fall. They come in many colors like red, white, or yellow.

Most of these plants come from East Asia. Some people even boil the flowers to make tea.

In Japan, the king uses this flower as his symbol. These flowers are very special to many people.

Chrysanthemums are pretty flowers that bloom in the fall.

People often call them "mums." Most of these plants come from East Asia. China is a very important home for them.

There are many kinds of mums. Some have many rows of petals. Others look like small buttons or pompons. They come in colors like red, white, and yellow. In Japan, the flower is very special. It is the symbol for the Emperor. The Japanese royal family is even called the Chrysanthemum Throne.

People use these plants in many ways. In East Asia, some people boil the flowers to make tea. In Korea, they use flowers to flavor rice wine. Some mums can even help keep bugs away. They contain pyrethrins, which are natural parts that stop insects. These parts can stop mosquitoes from biting. In Japan, people grow tiny mums in small pots. This is a way of making bonsai, which are small, shaped trees.

Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowering plants that bloom in the autumn.

Many people call them "mums" or "chrysanths" for short. These plants belong to a group called Asteraceae. Most of them come from East Asia and northeastern Europe. China is a very important place for these flowers.

In fact, China is the center of diversity for them. There are now over 20,000 different varieties in the world.

Each plant has a very specific way it grows. The leaves are often divided into small parts called leaflets. They can have jagged edges that look like teeth.

The flowers are actually clusters of many tiny parts. They have a base covered in layers called phyllaries. Some flowers have white, yellow, or red petals called ray florets. The center usually has yellow parts called disc florets. These small flowers produce pollen that is about 34 microns wide.

People have loved these flowers for a very long time. They were grown in China as far back as the 15th century BCE.

By the year 1630, people had already found 500 different types. In Japan, people began growing them during the Nara and Heian periods. This was between the early 8th and late 12th centuries. In 1753, a scientist named Linnaeus first gave them their official name.

These flowers are used for many different things today. In East Asia, people boil white or yellow flowers to make tea.

In Korea, they make a rice wine flavored with the flowers. Some plants also have a natural way to stop bugs. They contain pyrethrins, which are parts that attack insect nervous systems. This can even stop mosquitoes from biting. These parts are natural and break down easily in the light.

Chrysanthemums also hold a special place in history and art. In Japan, the flower is the imperial crest.

The Japanese monarchy is even called the Chrysanthemum Throne. In China, they are known as one of the "Four Gentlemen." This means they are very important in art. In the United States, a variety called "Dark Purple" arrived in 1798.

It was brought from England to a park in New Jersey.

Chrysanthemums are perennial herbaceous flowering plants that bloom during the autumn months.

Members of the Asteraceae family, these plants are often called "mums" or "chrysanths." Most species are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. China is considered the center of diversity for the genus. Today, the world contains a massive variety of these plants. Estimates from 2014 suggest there are over 20,000 cultivars globally. About 7,000 of these specific varieties are found in China alone.

The physical structure of a chrysanthemum is quite complex. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. These leaves are often divided into leaflets and may be lobed or serrate, which means they have tooth-like edges. The flower is actually a compound inflorescence. This means it is an array of many small flower heads. Each head has a base protected by layers of phyllaries. Within the head, you will find ray florets, which are the outer petals. These can be white, yellow, or red. The center contains disc florets, which are typically yellow. The fruit produced by the plant is a ribbed achene.

Even the pollen is specific, measuring approximately 34 microns.

Taxonomy, or the science of naming and classifying life, has seen much change for this genus. The scientist Linnaeus first formally described the genus in 1753. At that time, he identified 14 different species. Over time, the genus was split into several other groups. These included genera such as Argyranthemum, Glebionis, and Leucanthemum. There was much debate regarding these names. However, a ruling by the International Botanical Congress in 1999 changed things. They designated Chrysanthemum indicum as the defining species. This decision restored the economically important florist's chrysanthemums to the genus Chrysanthemum.

The history of chrysanthemum cultivation is very long. In China, they were grown as flowering herbs as far back as the 15th century BCE. By 1630, historians had recorded over 500 different cultivars. In Japan, cultivation began during the Nara and Heian periods. This was between the early 8th and late 12th centuries. During the Edo period, which lasted from the early 17th to late 19th century, chrysanthemum culture flourished. Japanese growers created many new shapes and colors. They even exported these varieties to China at the end of the Edo period.

These plants hold deep cultural significance in East Asia. In China, the chrysanthemum is one of the "Four Gentlemen" in art. This group also includes the plum blossom, the orchid, and the bamboo. The flower is also a symbol of nobility. In Japan, the chrysanthemum is the imperial crest. The Japanese monarchy is even known as the Chrysanthemum Throne. Japan also hosts many festivals and shows in the autumn. One such event is the Double Ninth Festival. This festival is celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th month. It began in 910 when the imperial court held its first show.

Beyond decoration, chrysanthemums have many practical uses. Some species, like Chrysanthemum × morifolium, are used for food and drink. In parts of East Asia, people boil the flowers to make chrysanthemum tea. In Korea, a rice wine called gukhwaju is flavored with these flowers. The leaves can also be used as greens in Chinese cuisine. Some people even use them as a garnish for sashimi in Japan. In the United States, the plant arrived in 1798. A man named Colonel John Stevens imported a variety called "Dark Purple" from England. He intended to grow them in New Jersey.

Chrysanthemums also play a role in science and the environment. Certain species, such as Tanacetum cinerariifolium, are a source of pyrethrum. This is a natural insecticide. The active components are called pyrethrins, which are found in the achenes. These chemicals attack the nervous systems of insects. They can even stop female mosquitoes from biting. Pyrethrins are biodegradable and break down easily in light. This makes them different from many synthetic chemicals. Additionally, a NASA study showed that these plants can help reduce indoor air pollution. They are truly versatile plants that connect many different parts of human life.