Flora

*Disclaimer: Nearly all of this page is derived from Wikipedia and includes speculation by a reader. Have doubt and correct inaccuracies.*

Monotropa has it's own flora. Some may have been introduced by travelers from Earth. Where the author has directly stated the correspondences, they are stated as true.

## Amaryllis

Amaryllis (Abeille's mother) might be named after *Amaryllis belladona*, known as Naked ladies, and as Belladona lily.

Naked ladies - *Amaryllis belladona*

Or, she could be named after *Hippeastrum*, which are sold as Amaryllis.

Amaryllis - *Hippeastrum correiense*

**Amaryllis** is also the name of a family (*Amaryllidaceae*), in a plant taxonomy. The family includes Daffodils (*Narcissus*), African Lily (*Agapanthus*) and Onions (*Allium*).

Paperwhite (a Daffodil) - *Narcissus papyraceus*
African lily - *Agapanthus africanus*
Onion - *Allium aflatunense*

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## Anemone

Reader Aniko, who made a cameo, might have a name related to the genus *Anemone*.

Mountain anemone - *Anemone crassifolia*

Blue crown anemone - *Anemone coronaria*

Winter windflower - *Anemonoides blanda*

*Anemone* is closely related to other genera including *Anemonoides*, *Anemonastrum*, *Hepatica*, and *Pulsatilla* (which includes Pasque flower).

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## Asphodelus

Asphodelus flowers appear in the Chapter 21 cover.

Asphodelus - *Asphodelus ramosus*

Abeille is on Monotropa, to plant a garden in loving memory of her late sister Evette.

Asphodelus was the peculiar plant of the dead; and in Greek mythology and English poetic use it overspreads the Elysian meadows.

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## Aster

Aster is possibly named after flowering plants of the genus *Aster*.

Aster - *Aster amellus*
Aster - *Aster alpinus*

There are also plants called Aster that have been reclassified.

*Aster dumosus* → *Symphyotrichum dumosum*

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## Birch

Birch is possibly named after trees of the genus *Betula*.

Paper birch - *Betula papyrifera*

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## Camellia

Tsubaki might be named after a Camellia flower.

Tsubaki - *Camellia japonica*

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## Cedar

Cedar might be named after a Cedar tree.

Himalayan cedar - *Cedrus deodara*
Lebanon cedar - *Cedrus libani*
Atlantic white cedar - *Chamaecyparis thyoides*
Iranian cedar - *Cupressus sempervirens*

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## Chestnut

Gardeners appear to be picking chestnuts starting on Chapter 19 Pg.23.

American chestnut trees were mostly wiped out by a blight in the early 20th century.

American chestnut - *Castanea dentata*

European chestnut - *Castanea sativa*

Chestnut trees have male and female flowers. In the picture below, 3 female flowers, in the center, are surrounded by male flowers.

Chestnut flowers - *Castanea sativa*

Chestnut fruit - *Castanea sativa*

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## Cloudberries

Ivy mentions an incident in which Abeille's parents had sent her live **Cloudberries**, which died (early on, we often see dead plants in Abeille's dwelling, which is ironic since she has traveled to Monotropa to grow a garden and she meets a falls for a Botanist) Chapter 2 Pg.5.

Cloudberries - *Rubus chamaemorus*

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## Clove

Clove is probably named after the Clove plant, since he is portrayed with one, among the bonus content in Volume 1.

Cloves - *Syzygium aromaticum*
Cloves - *Syzygium aromaticum*

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## Cordia

Cordia might be named after a fruit that is found in Indian pickle.

Gunda pickle - *Cordia dichotoma*

*Cordia dichotoma* has some charming names:

Fragrant manjack

Pink pearl

Glue berry

Indian cherry

Other, *Cordia* include:

Anacahuita - *Cordia boisseieri*
Assyrian plum - *Cordia myxa*
Sea trumpet - *Cordia subcordata*
Geiger tree - *Cordia sebestena*
Yellow cordia - *Cordia lutea*

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## Coriander

Coriander might be named after *Coriandrum sativum*.

Coriander - *Coriandrum sativum*

Coriander is also called Cilantro.

Coriander - *Coriandrum sativum*
Coriander roots - *Coriandrum sativum*
Coriander seeds - *Coriandrum sativum*

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## Daisy

Daisy might be named after the flowering plant *Bellis perennis*.

Daisy - *Bellis perennis*

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## Eyebright

Eyebright industries, the company that Abeille and many other characters are employed by, might be named after the herb Eyebright.

Eyebright - *Euphrasia rostkoviana*

Eyebright industries might be named after Monotropa uniflora, instead, which was called **Eyebright**.

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## Fern

Fern might be named after a fern...

Fern - *Polypodiopsida*

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## Forget-me-not

Forget-me-not flowers appear in the Chapter 21 cover.

Wood forget-me-not - *Myosotis sylvatica*

Abeille is on Monotropa, to plant a garden in loving memory of her late sister Evette.

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## Hellebore

Poppy travelled to Monotropa, from the planet Hellebores. The name might be associated with flowering plants in the genus *Helleborus*.

Hellebore - *Helleborus orientalis*
Hellebore - *Helleborus niger*
Hellebore - *Helleborus viridis*

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## Hemerocallis

Mel, a reader who appears in Cameo with reader Kita, has a flower resembling her name:

Hemerocallis - "My Melinda"

"My Melinda" is a cultivar of the Hemerocallis daylily.

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## Hibiscus

Ivy wears a Hibiscus flower on Chapter 20 cover.

Chinese Hibiscus - *Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis*

She wears it behind her left ear, which means she is in a relationship, in Hawaii and by various people.

The language of flowers gave Hibiscus flowers the meaning "Delicate beauty".

The state flower of Hawaii is *Ma'o hau hele* or "Hawaiian Hibiscus" - *Hibiscus brackenridgei*, which is yellow, though red hibiscus flowers are commonly grown.

Ma'o hau hele - *Hibiscus brackenridgei*

"Chinese hibiscus" is the national flower of Malaysia.

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## Holly

Holly might be named after plants of the genus *Ilex*.

Holly - *Ilex aquifolium*

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## Ivy

Ivy might be named after plants of the genus *Hedera*.

Ivy - *Hedera helix*

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## Jasmine

Jasmine might be named after plants of the genus *Jasaminum*.

Jasmine - *Jasminum sambac*

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## Laurel

Laurel might be named after Bay Laurel.

Bay laurel - *Laurus nobilis*

Bay leaves are used as food ingredients and are burned for their fragrance.

A Laurel wreath has been used as symbol of victory.

Laurel wreath

*Kalmia latifolia* is commonly called Mountain laurel.

Mountain laurel - *Kalmia latifolia*

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## Lace flower

A love not found reader appeared in a cameo: Layce. A reader suggested naming the character after Lace flower, or Queen Anne's lace:

Queen Anne's lace - *Daucus carota.*

Queen Anne's lace (underside) - *Daucus carota.*

Queen Anne's lace (seed head) - *Daucus carota.*

Another "Lace flower" is False Queen Anne's lace:

False Queen Anne's lace - *Ammi majus.*

A hanakotoba (flower words) is "pretty heart".

Lace flower resembles **poison hemlock** in appearance. Notable differences are that lace flower has a hairy stem, while hemlock has a smooth stem. Hemlock usually has purple splotches on the stem, while lace flower does not.

Both the root and the umbel of lace flower are edible. Lace flower is also known as wild carrot. The root is said to resemble a carrot's scent and flavor. The root of poison hemlock does not have the scent that resembles a carrot.

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## Lilac

A children's play takes place at Lilac elementary school. Lilac might refer to the flowering plant *Syringa vulgaris*.

Lilac - *Syringa vulgaris.*

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## Magnolia

Magnolia flowers appear in the Chapter 21 cover.

Magnolia flower - *Magnolia grandiflora*

Abeille is on Monotropa, to plant a garden in loving memory of her late sister Evette.

*Magnolia* is an ancient genus. Appearing before bees evolved, the flowers are theorized to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles.

The language of flowers gave the flower the meaning: Love of nature.

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## Mallow

Mallow might be named after plants of the genus *Malva*, such as *Malva parviflora*, a tenacious plant that can be found growing in vacant lots and through cracks in concrete.

Mallow - *Syringa vulgaris*
Mallow - *Syringa vulgaris*

The color Mauve, might be named after the color of the flower of some Mallow species:

*Mauve*

The language of flowers gave the flower the meaning: Mildness.

Another plant associated with Mallow might be Marshmallow.

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## Marigold

Marigold might be named after plants of the genus *Calendula*.

Marigold - *Calendula officinalis*

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## Marshmallow

Mallow might be named after **Marshmallow**.

Marshmallow is the original ingredient which the food **Marshmallow** was made from.

Marshmallow root extract is also applied to human hair to remove tangles and matted curly hair. Mallow doesn't appear to know about this treatment.

Marshmallow - *Anthaea officinallis*
Marshmallow (flower) - *Anthaea officinallis*

Another plant which could be associated with Mallow is Mallow.

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## Mistletoe

Mistletoe appears around Jollytide.

Mistletoe - *Phoradendron leucarpum* (America) or *Viscum album* (Europe)

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## Monotropa uniflora

Perhaps the single most significant plant reference, in the story, is *Monotropa uniflora*. The author's notes explain that the planet Monotropa is named after the flower. Miel gives Abeille a live plant of the species, as a gift.

**Indian pipe** was also called Eyebright by Native Americans, because it was used to heal eye ailments. In the story, Eyebright Industries could be named after this plant, instead of Euphrasia rostkoviana.

The plant was a favorite of Emily Dickinson who called it the preferred flower of life in a letter to a friend.

It is noted, in the story, that this is an extraordinary gift to give, since it is extremely difficult to transplant. Abeille's dwelling is also filled with dead plants at the time, which combined with the fact that she has traveled to Monotropa to honor her dead sister by planting a garden, makes the act more significant.

Ghost plant - *Monotropa uniflora*
Ghost plant - *Monotropa uniflora*
Ghost plant - *Monotropa uniflora*

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## Narcissus jonquilla

Aster gives Ivy Daffodils, as a gift. She, a horticulturalist, notes the "scientific name" *Narcissus jonquilla*.

Botan's ex partner is named Jonquil which is the name of the color of *Narcissus Jonquilla*.

Gina noted that Jonquil is named after the botanical name *jonquil* as in *Narcissus jonquilla*

The name *Jonquill derives from* junco *("reed, rush" in Latin).*

'Jonquil' is also the name of the shade of yellow in *Narcissus Jonquilla*.

Daffodil - *Narcissus jonquilla*

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## Olive

Olive might be named after the plant species *Olea europaea*

Olive flower - *Olea europaea*
Olive fruit - *Olea europaea*
Olive tree - *Olea europaea*

An olive branch is used to symbolize peace.

Dove with olive branch

Olive branches were offered to deities and powerful figures symbolizing benediction and purity. Over the years, the olive has also been used to symbolize wisdom, fertility, power, and purity..

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## Pasque flower

Abeille was born on the planet Pasque. The name relates to Pasqueflowers. The author's notes give the association.

Pasqueflower - *Pulsatilla vulgaris*

The same flower is also named *Anemone pulsatilla*.

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## Pear

Apios is Greek for "Pear". Maybe it's his figure, or one he dreams of having, or one Olive, his wife, sees.

"Pear" possibly refers to the fruit of trees of the genus *Pyrus*, in a plant taxonomy*.* *Pyrus communis* (European pear), for example.

Pear flower
Pear flower
Pear tree
Pear tree

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## Persimmon

Arrival area girl might be named after the flowering plant *Diospyros kaki*.

Persimmon - *Diospyros kaki*

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## Peony

Botan is named after flowers of plants in the genus *Paeonia*.

Peony - *Paeonia suffruticosa*

Peony - *Paeonia lactiflora*

Botan's sister Tsubaki, and he, are named after flowers that might be thought to look similar.

Peony - *Paeonia suffruticosa*

Tsubaki is named after a Camellia flower.

A flower meaning of Peony is "bravery". The author cited a Japanese folktale The princess Peony as an example of a flower meaning (hanakotoba) of Peony flowers, in Japan.

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## Petunia

Petunia might be named after plants of the genus *Petunia*.

Petunia

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## Poinsetta

[Poinsetta appear on the cover of Chapter 23].

Poinsetta

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## Poppy

Poppy might be named after plants in the subfamily *Papaveroideae*.

Corn poppy - *Papaver rhoeas*
Poppy field

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## Primrose

Primrose flowers appear in the Chapter 21 cover.

Primrose - *Primula vulgaris*

Abeille is on Monotropa, to plant a garden in loving memory of her late sister Evette.

The language of flowers gave the flower the meaning: Early youth.

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## Strawberry

Abeille seems to have a fondness for Strawberries.

Strawberry - *Fragaria × ananassaa*

Strawberry comics is the author's company.

Strawberry with scions

Strawberry plants reproduce sexually and by producing daughter plants (pups) that grow from runners (*stolen*) that venture out from the main plant.

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## Sunflower

A significant moment in the relationship between Abeille and Miel, is when Miel is working on adapting earth species to Monotropa by grafting Sunflowers onto Monotropian plants and Abeille asks him about it. There is a lot more to it than that. But, the Sunflower comes to be symbolic of Miel, from that moment.

The sunflower might be *Helianthus annuus*.

Common sunflower - *Helianthus annuus*

The grafted plants on the cover of chapter 4 show the flower faces.

Common sunflower - *Helianthus annuus*
Common sunflower - *Helianthus annuus*

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## Thistle

Thistle might be named after plants in the genus *Cirsium*.

Cirsium vulgare

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## Tomato

Arrival area girl might be named after tomatoes, or a sauce made from them.

Tomato - *Solanum lycopersicum*

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## Tulip

Tulip might be named after plants in the genus *Tulipa*.

Tulip field

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## Verbena

Verbena might be named after plants in the genus *Verbena*.

Hoary verbena - *Verbena stricta*

There is speculation among fans about what leaf appears on verbena's dress, on the cruise ship at the start of Chapter 20.

Verbena's dress

Some suggestions follow.

Bay leaf (Vera's sib is named Laurel, incidentally):

Bay laurel - *Laurus nobilis*

Lemon verbena:

Lemon verbena - *Aloysia citrodora*

Poison ivy:

Poison ivy - *Toxicodendron radicans*

Tea leaves:

Tea plant - *Camellia sinensis*

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## Yew

Evette might be named after *Taxus baccata*, the European Yew.

Evette is a feminine form of the name Yves, which means Yew.

European Yew - *Taxus baccatta*
European Yew - *Taxus baccatta*
European Yew (fruit) - *Taxus baccatta*

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## Flower meanings

Flower meanings are probably a difficult thing to determine. Flowers are given meaning by where they are found. In mythology a flower's meaning might be partially tied to the story they appear in. There might be references within references to what meaning a flower was given and what meaning a reference to that reference had.

Like other symbols, symbolism has a use and the symbol is as valuable as the use it is put to. Love not found surely has it's own flower meanings and those are more important than what a list of meanings might offer.

Some collections of flower meanings are:

* Hanakotoba
* Doubts about the Hanakotoba page
* Language of flowers
* Language of flowers text (Project Gutenberg)

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## References

1. ↑ Amaryllis describes the genus and *Amaryllis belladonna*. Naked lady gives the alternate name "Naked ladies", that I find used in gardening supply stores.
2. ↑ Hippeastrum indicates that Hippeastrum are sold as Amaryllis.
3. ↑ Amaryllidaceae describes the family and that Daffodils, African Lilies and Onions are included.
4. ↑ Asphodel offers an etymology.
5. ↑ An interesting page about Hibiscus meanings
6. ↑ Hawaiian hibiscus makes these claims.
7. ↑ The image of Ma'o hau hele is from flickr user Rosa Say
8. ↑ Bunga raya makes this claim.
9. ↑ Laceflower attributes this name to several plants.
10. ↑ Magnolia makes this claim.
11. ↑ Mauve makes this claim
12. ↑ Etymology online makes this claim.
13. ↑ Olive makes these and other claims.
14. ↑ Hanakotoba
15. ↑ From Outlines of plant life.