The Rice Flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius) is a charming member of the daisy family, native to eastern Australia. Its tight buds resemble grains of rice, inspiring its common name. The genus name comes from the Greek words ozo (“to smell”) and thamnos (“shrub”), a fitting tribute to the plant’s aromatic leaves and subtly spicy floral scent. Rice flowers form dense heads of tiny blooms arranged in branching corymbs, their white or pinkish tones created by delicate papery florets. Long prized in floral arrangements, they also carry a touch of ancient romance—Greek admirers once called them “immortelle,” or everlasting, for their ability to retain beauty even after drying.
澳洲米花是菊科植物中一種迷人的成員，原產於澳洲東部。它緊實的花苞形似米粒，因此得名「米花」。其屬名源自希臘語，ozo 意為「氣味」，thamnos 意為「灌木」，恰如其分地描述了這種植物芳香的葉片和略帶辛辣的花香。澳洲米花由密集的細小花朵組成，排列成分枝的傘房花序，其白色或粉紅色的色調是由精緻的紙質小花構成的。澳洲米花長期以來都是插花藝術的寵兒，也帶有一絲古老的浪漫氣息——古希臘的愛好者曾稱其為「永生花」，因為它們即使乾燥後也能保持美麗。
Notes 筆記
- Rice flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius) belongs to the daisy family and is endemic to eastern Australia. When in bud, the flowers resemble large grains of rice—hence the name. Other common names include white dogwood, pill flower, and sago bush.
- The genus Ozothamnus is said to derive from the Greek words ozo (“to smell”) and thamnos (“shrub”). Rice flower leaves are known for their sharp, aromatic scent, and many species are also said to produce flowers with a spicy fragrance.
- The plant bears dense heads of small “flowers,” which are themselves arranged in corymbs. These corymbs form branching heads containing anywhere from a few to hundreds of individual “flowers.” The white or pinkish coloration is due to the papery ray florets surrounding each “flower.”
- Rice flower is often used in floral arrangements. It has been cherished since ancient times—Greeks valued it for its lasting beauty and referred to it as “immortelle” (meaning “everlasting”) because the flowers retain their appearance long after being dried.
- 澳洲米花屬於菊科，是澳洲東部的特有種。萌芽時花似大米粒，故得此名。其他俗名包括白花山茱萸、藥丸花、西米灌木、小米花、大米花、爆米花。
- 據稱，米花菊屬（Ozothamnus）的名稱源自希臘語，其中 ozo 意為「氣味」，thamnos 意為「灌木」。澳洲米花葉片以其濃鬱的芳香氣味而聞名，許多品種的花朵也散發著辛辣的香氣。
- 這種植物有密集的小「花」組成的花序，這些小「花」又排列成傘房花序。分枝頭上的傘房花序包含數到數百個單獨的「花」。白色或粉紅色是由圍繞每朵「花」的紙質舌狀花所致。
- 澳洲米花常用於插花藝術。自古以來，它就備受珍視——希臘人因其持久的美麗而珍惜它，並稱之為「永生花」，因為這種花在乾燥後仍能長時間保持其外觀。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Ozothamnus diosmifolius
Plants Posts 植物的帖子
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