The flamingo flower or anthurium comes from the rainforests of South America and we like to keep it as an easy-care houseplant. But what does the botanical species name actually mean and what significance does the anthurium have in the language of flowers?
What significance does the anthurium have in the language of flowers?
The anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower, symbolizes strength, dominance, elegance and exoticism in the language of flowers. It is a suitable gift for self-confident people and expresses that the recipient is special. The name “Anthurium” means “flower tail” in Greek.
What significance does the anthurium have in the language of flowers?
Due to its exotic, striking appearance and strongly colored bracts, the anthurium stands for attributes such as strength, dominance, elegance and exoticism in the flower language. It is the ideal gift for self-confident people and expresses to the recipient that he or she is something very special. The easy-care houseplant is a nice souvenir, especially for men, for example as a guest gift, for a birthday or for Valentine's Day.
What does the word “anthurium” mean?
There is no such thing as “the” anthurium. Instead, botanically correct, Anthurium is a genus name to which more than 600 different species are assigned. However, the large flamingo flower (Anthurium andraeanum) and the small flamingo flower (Anthurium scherzerianum) are mainly cultivated as houseplants.
The name “Anthurium” is made up of the Greek words “anthos” for flower and “oura” for tail. The anthurium is therefore a “flower tail”, with the name alluding to the characteristic shape of the flowers: These actually consist of a cob surrounded by a colored bract.
Why is the anthurium also called the “flamingo flower”?
In German, the anthurium is better known by its picturesque name “flamingo flower”, although it only has something to do with the bird of the same name in purely external terms. The shape of the eye-catching flowers - the spadix with the eye-catching bract - is said to be visually reminiscent of a flamingo, with the flower stalk resembling the neck and the inflorescence the head of the bird. The plant also has this descriptive name in other languages:
- flamingo flower (English)
- painter’s palette plant (“painter’s palette plant”, English)
- fleur de flamant rose (“flame flower”, French)
- flor de flamenco (“flamingo flower”, Spanish)
- fiore di fenicottero (“flamingo flower”, Italian)
Another German name for the anthurium is also “heart flower”, as the inflorescence is reminiscent of a heart. However, this term is less common and therefore less common.
Tip
Anthurium is very suitable as a cut flower
By the way, the anthurium is not only easy to cultivate in a pot, but also makes a very durable cut flower. As long as the water is changed regularly, you can enjoy the flowers for up to three weeks.
What is the significance of the anthurium?
- In the language of flowers, the anthurium stands for strength, dominance, elegance and exoticism.
- This makes it a good gift for someone special.
- The Greek name “Anthurium” means “flower tail”.
- In German, the houseplant is also called “flamingo flower” or “heart flower”.
- The names allude to the characteristic shape of the inflorescence.
