Find the corresponding decoration and take a photo of it
Carnation
Dianthus
The carnation is a well-known flower, believed to have originated along the Mediterranean coasts. In this decoration it appears highly stylized, but there are over 300 species; you can recognize it by its characteristic serrated petals. The carnation has also held various political meanings, especially in France, where it was used in different colors: “red” to distinguish supporters of Napoleon and “white” for those loyal to the monarchy. It is also said that Marie Antoinette, while imprisoned, received hidden messages inside carnation calyces. Flower colors were important at the time, but do you know why flowers are colorful?
INSIGHT
Color is certainly what we appreciate most about flowers: they are like eye-catching outfits used by plants to attract pollinating insects, which ensure the continuation of the species. Insects can see ultraviolet light, so the colors we perceive do not always match what bees, for example, see. Flowers that appear white to us may look blue to them, this is why truly white flowers are relatively rare in nature.
Flower coloration is determined by three main pigments: carotenoids, which produce yellow and red tones; betalains, which create red and violet hues; and flavonoids, which generate yellows. Some flowers display multiple colors, such as variegated tulips, which were highly sought after in the 17th century during the so-called “Tulip Mania.” However, not everyone knows that the streaking in tulips is actually caused by a plant disease. We often seek increasingly unusual and extreme colors, but it is worth remembering that nature is already extraordinary as it is.