CHRYSANTHEMUMS & LADYBIRD

Chrysanthemums, often called "mums" or "chrysanths", are perennial flowering plants of the genus Chrysanthemum in the family Asteraceae which are native to Asia and northeastern Europe. About 30 species have been described. Florists sometimes abbreviate the spelling to "xants"

The name "chrysanthemum" is derived from the Greek words, chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower). Chrysanthemum species are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 50–150 cm tall, with deeply lobed leaves with large flower heads that are generally white, yellow or pink in the wild. They are the preferred diet of larvae of certain lepidopterans.

In Australia, Chrysanthemums bloom around Mother's Day, and the inclusion of the ending "-mum" associates this flower with the anniversary and chrysanthemums are the preferred flower to offer one's mother on Mother's Day.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Winged meme.