Flowers and Their Roots
History of Flowers
In this article, we will be learning about the origins of flowers and their presence in human history. We'll explore the records of human interaction with these lovely blooms. These span all the way back from the Paleolithic era to modern times.
The next section of this article talks about flowers as art subjects in ancient history. We also go over the influence they had as muses for artists of all kinds.
Last, we'll look into a list of the most popular flowers and learn the stories behind their names!
Interested in a formal course? Want to get certified as an expert on all things floral? We encourage you to look into associations that offer programs in floristry, such as:
American Institute of Floral Designers (www.aifd.org).
Society of American Florists (www.safnow.org).
American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org).
Flowers through Human History.
How far back are flowers recorded in human history? Have they always been diverse? How diverse? How did humans discover and make use of them in early history?
These are only a few of the things people wonder about flowers. Here is a list of answers to some of the most pressing inquiries about flowers as recorded in history!
Have flowers always existed? Since when?
Yes, they have. Archaeologists have dug deep to find out when flowers first appeared. Using modernized technology over time, they uncovered flower fossils. With these, they assessed that flowers have been around since the prehistoric period. Their earliest estimate is around the Paleolithic age, about 93 million years ago.
Were flowers always as varied as they are now? Or did that develop over time with human interference?
Today, there are about 270,000 species of flowers! This number continues to grow with time and scientific developments.
As for the evolution of their varieties, records only go back to about 150 years. History shows only 125,000 species already existed.
Are there flowers that have been here throughout early history?
Plants like magnolias and herbs go back to 120 million years old. This time allowed them to evolve into their forms today.
Experts maintain that flowering plants have been around for about 146 million years.
How did humans identify them? Did they use them in their everyday lives and routine?
There is no specific record of how humans discovered flowers and plants. But there's proof on the purpose of flowers in the everyday life of humans in ancient history!
For instance, setting flowers on graves has been a ritual long before current times.
Various forms of art have also used florals both as main subjects and background details. From music, literature, and sculpture, people have used flowers to express themselves. Now we see how blooms have always perked up lives and made occasions more special.
We'll discover more on flowers in art below, so keep reading!