Why petunias are related to tobacco and 9 other flower mysteries revealed

The names of the flowers blooming in gardens, parks, and shops carry centuries of linguistic history. Modern botanical taxonomies standardized plant classification, but everyday names were forged through visual observation, ancient mythology, and cultural trade. Exploring flower etymologies reveals how past generations perceived the natural world. Keep reading to discover the origin of the names of 10 common flowers.

The common bright yellow flower often dismissed as a lawn weed derives its name from an anatomical comparison. "Dandelion" enters English from the Anglo-French phrase dent-de-lion, which translates literally to "lion’s tooth".

Rather than referring to the yellow blossom, the name describes the plant’s sharp green leaves. Medieval botanists noted that these jagged edges of foliage closely resembled the sharp incisors of a lion. Similar literal translations exist in other languages, including the German Löwenzahn and the Spanish diente de león.

Derived from the Ancient Greek adjective azaleos, meaning "dry" or "parched", the azalea received its name from the pioneering Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century.

Linnaeus picked the name because this flower typically thrives in dry sandy soils and suffers when rooted in waterlogged ground. Though modern gardeners associate azaleas with damp spring rains and temperate woodlands, the name is a tribute to the plant’s preference for dry soil conditions.

The name of the garden pansy originates from the Middle French word pensée, meaning "thought" or "remembrance" (derived from the Latin verb pensare, meaning "to consider" or "to ponder").

During the Renaissance, herbalists felt the flower’s dark center and forward-facing petals resembled a human face bowed slightly forward in deep contemplation. Because of this association, pansies became traditional gifts to signal that the giver was thinking of the recipient, a symbolism later immortalized in Shakespeare’s Hamlet when Ophelia remarks, "there is pansies, that’s for thoughts".

The etymology of "carnation" follows two intertwined historical paths. The most widely accepted origin traces back to the Middle French carnation and the Latin carnatio (derived from caro, meaning "flesh"), referencing the soft pinkish flesh tone characteristic of the original wild blooms.

Another linguistic influence stems from "coronation". In ancient Greece and Rome, carnation blooms were woven into floral crowns (coronae) worn during ceremonial festivities and royal coronation rites. Over centuries of English usage, the terms for flesh color and ceremonial crowns merged into the modern word.

The story of the tulip’s name reflects the historical trade routes between Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century. The word comes into English via Middle French (tulipe) and Italian (tulipano), which adapted the Ottoman Turkish word tülbend (derived from the Persian dulband), meaning "turban".

European travelers visiting Constantinople were impressed by the resemblance between the folded layers of fabric in a traditional Ottoman turban and the cup-shaped, overlapping petals of the flower.

"Daisy" stands as an example of Old English botanical descriptive naming. Originating from the compound word dægesēage (literally translating to "day’s eye"), the name describes the flower’s natural sleep movement.

At nightfall, a daisy’s white outer petals fold inward over its central yellow disk. As dawn arrives, the petals unfold, exposing the golden center to the morning sun, mimicking an eye opening at the break of day.

Coined by French botanist Philibert Commerson in the 18th century, "hydrangea" combines two ancient Greek roots: hydr- (meaning "water") and angeion (meaning "vessel", "picher", or "capsule").

Many gardeners assume the name refers to the plant’s high water requirements; however, it actually describes the distinct shape of the plant’s mature seed pods. Once the colorful petals drop, the small seed capsules resemble traditional Greek water jars or pitchers.

Popularly known as pot marigold, "calendula" derives its name from the Medieval Latin calendula, a diminutive form of calendar (the "calends", or the first day of each month in the Roman calendar).

The Romans observed that in mild Mediterranean climates, calendula plants bloomed on or near the first day of almost every month of the year. This way, the name acts as a botanical calendar.

The word "petunia" arrived in European languages during the 18th century through French botanical reports from South America. French herbalists adapted the word pétun, an early French term for tobacco borrowed from petyn, a word used by the indigenous Tupi-Guarani peoples of Brazil.

When early European explorers encountered petunias growing wild in South America, they recognized their close physical resemblance to tobacco plants. Modern taxonomy confirmed this intuition: both petunias and tobacco belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae).

Named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger between heaven and earth, this classic garden perennial boasts an ancient name.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Iris traveled along rainbows, connecting the realms of gods and mortals. Ancient botanists bestowed her name upon the flower because of its remarkable spectrum of natural colors, ranging from deep purple and cobalt blue to yellow, pink, and white.

Identity crisis

How Siam became Thailand and 9 other countries that chose to rebrand

Image: pure julia

Countries rename themselves for many reasons—shedding colonial pasts, embracing local languages, or settling political disputes. Some changes are subtle, others dramatic, but each reflects deep historical, cultural, or geopolitical shifts. Here are 10 times a nation decided to swap out its old name for a new identity.

Image: Yves Alarie

In 1989, the ruling military junta of the country changed "Burma" to "Myanmar" to reflect what it said was a more inclusive, indigenous identity. The name "Burma" was strongly associated with British colonialism and the dominant Bamar ethnic group.

The UN and many countries recognized the change, but some, like the U.S. and UK, resisted for years as a political stance against the unelected military regime behind the change.

Image: S'mile Vilakati

In 2018, King Mswati III declared that Swaziland would become Eswatini, meaning "land of the Swazis" in the local language. He announced the change during the country’s 50th independence anniversary.

The king cited confusion with Switzerland and a desire to break with colonial-era names as reasons. Also, the new name had already been in unofficial use for years during local events.

Image: Hendrik Cornelissen

In 1972, the island nation officially changed its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka after becoming a republic. "Sri Lanka" derives from Sanskrit, meaning "resplendent island."

The name "Ceylon" was tied to Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial rule. However, some companies (like Ceylon Tea) still use the old name as a global brand.

Image: Kaysha

In 1997, after the dictatorial regime of Mobutu Sese Seko was overthrown, Zaire reverted to its pre-1971 name: the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Zaire" had been Mobutu’s attempt to Africanize the nation, but reverting to the original name also caused its own problems, since its neighbor is also named the Republic of the Congo, leading to some confusion for both locals and tourists.

Image: Ljupco Dzambazovski

After years of dispute with Greece over the name "Macedonia," the country officially became North Macedonia in 2019. Greece claimed "Macedonia" implied a territorial claim over its northern region of the same name.

The compromise unblocked North Macedonia’s path to NATO and EU talks. Though controversial domestically, the change ended a decades-long diplomatic standoff.

Image: allPhoto Bangkok

Under the Khmer Rouge regime, the country was known as Democratic Kampuchea. After the regime’s fall in 1979, the name gradually returned to "Cambodia," the anglicized form of the original name.

By 1993, with the monarchy restored and a new constitution, "Kingdom of Cambodia" became official. "Kampuchea" is still used in the Khmer language, but not internationally.

Image: Road Ahead

In 1984, revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara renamed Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning "Land of Incorruptible People" in local languages. The old name referred to river tributaries of the region.

Sankara saw the change as a break from colonial legacy and a tribute to national dignity. The people became known as Burkinabé, a new term coined to reflect unity.

Image: Azhar J

This was more a rebranding than a true name change. "The Netherlands" has always been the country’s official name, whereas "Holland" refers only to two provinces. In 2020, the Dutch government stopped using "Holland" in international marketing to avoid confusion.

The change was part of a tourism and trade branding overhaul, with major events like Eurovision and the Olympics adopting "Netherlands" exclusively in their materials.

Image: Mathew Schwartz

In 1939, and again officially after WWII in 1949, the country dropped the name Siam to become Thailand, meaning "land of the free."

The change was mainly driven by a nationalist movement that sought to unify the country under a more inclusive Thai identity. While the name "Siam" carried some specific cultural connotations, the name "Thailand" emphasized sovereignty and the ethnic majority’s rule.

Image: Chloe Evans

In 1980, the unrecognized white minority government of Rhodesia was replaced, and the country became Zimbabwe, derived from "Great Zimbabwe," an ancient city of the region.

The old name honored British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. The new one reclaimed African history and identity after years of brutal conflict.