Tuberosa Flowers
Tuberose Flowers For Sale Uk London
Name : Tuberosa Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Polianthes, (Polianthes tuberosa).
Tuberosa Description
Polianthes tuberosa is the botanical name for Tuberose, a perennial plant of the Agave family, Agavaceae, native to Central America, especially Mexico. The scientific name Polianthes is derived from the Greek words polis meaning white or shining and anthos meaning flower. The common name Tuberose is derived from the Latin word tuberosa, meaning swollen or tuberous, referring to the plant’s root system. There are about 12 species in the genus Polianthes. In Hindi, the Tuberose is known as "Rajnigandha", meaning "night-fragrant” referring to its night blooming blossoms.
The Tuberose grows wild in Mexico and surrounding countries, but the commercial cultivation of tuberose is usually in Morocco, the Comores Islands, France, Hawaii, South Africa, India, and China. The tuberose tubers were first exported to Philippines and then to the East Indies. In 1594, a Seville physician, Simon de Tovar, introduced Tuberose tubers to France and Italy. And this is how the famous Grasse tuberose was first cultivated.
Tuberose is famous for its heady fragrance and tuberose extracts are used as a middle note in perfumery. The fragrance of the tuberose is described as complex, exotic and sweet. The specialty of Tuberose is that it continues to produce scent even after the flowers are picked from the plant thus making it an extraordinary cut flower.
The Tuberose flower grows in elongated spikes about 45 cm long atop which clusters of fragrant waxy white flowers are borne. Each individual flower is about two inches long and tubular in shape. Tuberose flowers bloom from the bottom towards the top of the spike. Tuberose foliage consists of long, bright green leaves clustered at the base of the plant and smaller, clasping leaves along the stem.
Tuberose is an easily grown tuberous plant requiring the same cultural methods used for Gladioli. Plant tuberoses in a sunny location in a sandy loam soil with good drainage. Tuberoses need regular watering and bloom in late summer. Fragrant Tuberose blossoms are abundant from February to October. Tuberoses propagate through bulbs planted in spring after the last frost. Offsets can also be used for starting new plants but these take more than a year to bloom. Like most night blooming flowers, the tuberose is pollinated by nocturnal moths, which is why the flowers are white.
Tuberoses are excellent garden plants and their fragrance enlivens your garden at night. Tuberoses are known as “Raat ki Rani” (Mistress of the Night) in the subcontinent due to its fragrance that lures passersby in the night. It can be used add freshness and focus to dull areas and is a valuable landscaping plant.
The aromatic tuberose makes excellent cut flowers provided the water is changed daily. It has a vase life of 7-10 days and the highly fragrant blossoms work wonders for the ambience. Tuberose is a great flower for filling up bouquets, not only complementing other flowers but also providing heavenly, soul lifting fragrance. Tuberose is a good choice for wedding themes and also for corsage work. The tuberose is commercially available all year round.
Tuberosa Meaning
The fragrant, alluring Tuberose signifies Dangerous Pleasure, Voluptuousness and symbolizes a Sweet Voice.
The Tuberose was considered to be a funeral flower in Victorian times.
Tuberosa Mythology
The tuberose holds a prominent place in Indian culture and mythology and the fragrant blossoms find use in wedding ceremonies, garlands, decoration and various traditional rituals.
The tuberose is also famous in Hawaiian culture; in fact the first smell that greets tourists entering Hawaii is none other than the Tuberose that is used to create Leis. Around 40 tuberose flowers are used to make a single lei. There is an ancient tradition involving Hawaiian weddings according to which the groom wears a maile lei, which is a native Kauai plant, while the bride wears a wreath of tuberose and pikaki flowers around her head called a haku. This tradition is still popular as a part of a time-honoured Hawaiian wedding ceremony.
It is believed that Tuberose is capable of improving one’s capacity for emotional depth and psychic powers. In some cultures the Tuberose is also said to amplify artistic inspiration as it stimulates the creative right side of the brain. Tuberose also brings serenity to the mind and heart.
According to French folklore, young girls should not breathe in the alluring fragrance of tuberose after dark for fear that it would put them in a romantic mood. Whereas, in India, the tuberose is renowned for its strong aphrodisiac powers and in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine, tuberose essence oils are held in high esteem not only for their exquisite fragrance, but their healing properties.
The ancient Mayans held the Tuberose in high prestige and considered it sacred to their Goddess of Beauty and Love and believed it to be the embodiment of Strength and Femininity.
The Aztecs called the Tuberose “Omixochitl” or Bone Flower. Aztec healers used the waxy, luminous white flowers for medicinal practices since Tuberoses actually contain anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
