Gold Flower

It's chrysanthemum season!

• The name "chrysanthemum" is derived from the Greek words chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower).
• Yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers of the species C. morifolium are boiled to make a sweet drink in some parts of Asia.
• Chrysanthemum leaves are steamed or boiled and used as greens.
• Small chrysanthemums are used in Japan as a sashimi garnish.
• Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) is economically important as a natural source of insecticide. Pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all insects, and inhibit female mosquitoes from biting. 
• Chrysanthemum plants have been shown to reduce indoor air pollution by the NASA Clean Air Study.
• In some countries of Europe (e.g., France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Croatia), incurve chrysanthemums are symbolic of death and are used only for funerals or on graves.
• In the United States, the flower is usually regarded as positive and cheerful. 
• In Australia,the chrysanthemum is sometimes given to mothers for Mother's Day.
• "Chrysanthemum Gate" is taboo slang meaning "anus" (with sexual connotations).
•  In China it is one of the four symbolic seasonal flowers.
• Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC.