THE CYPRESS
Cypress is the common name for members of the Cupressaceae, a widely distributed family of coniferous shrubs and trees, several yielding valuable timber.
Botanically speaking, the cypress is a narrow conifer, which creates a spire of densely packed evergreen, rich, deep blue-green foliage. The cypress of classical literature is the European C. sempervirens or Italian cypress. It has since early times been symbolic of mourning and, more recently, of immortality. The gates of St. Peter's at Rome, which stood for 1,100 years, were made of its wood. The funereal, or mourning, cypress (C. funebris) of China, with “weeping” branches, is a popular ornamental elsewhere. American trees of the genus Chamaecyparis of the same family are also called cypresses.
The cypress branches were carried at funerals; hence, the cypress flower is associated with death, melancholy and mourning.
Thus, flowers not only show love and longing, flowers such as cypress indicate respect and dignity for the departed souls of our near and dear ones. The true cypress family is classified in the division Pinophyta, of the class Pinopsida, order Coniferales.
Related Flowers : Bluebells Flowers Calla lily or Zantadeschias Flowers Buttercups Flowers Carnations or Dianthus Flowers Cactus Flowers Celosia Flowers Camellias Flowers Chincherinchees or Ornithogalums Flowers Carnations Dianthus Flowers Chrysanthemums or Xanths Flowers
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