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Flowers & Floral Emblems

The term floral emblem, which refers to flowers specifically, is primarily used in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the term state flower is more often used.

Alaska Symbols

Alaska Symbols

Bird, Fish, Flag, Floral Emblem, Flower, Fossil, Gem, Insect, Land Mammal, Language, Marine Mammal, Mineral, Motto, Nicknames, Seal, Sport, Song, Tree

Alaska Flower

Wild Native Forget-Me-Not

(Myosotis alpestris)

Adopted on April 28, 1917.

The Governor signed the bill into law April 28, 1917. Ten years later, the forget-me-not, Myosotis alpestris, received yet another honor when Alaska's flag was adopted. The designer said the blue field, or background, represents Alaska's skies and the forget-me-not.

When Alaska became a state, it kept the forget-me-not as its official state flower.

The alpine forget-me-not is a perennial that grows 5 to 12 inches high in alpine meadows. The flowers have five connected salviform petals, colored sky blue, that are a quarter to a third of an inch wide. They have a white inner ring and a yellow center. Prefers cold, partial shade or partial sun to full sun; soil should be dry with a humous, moist soil.

The plant can be found in most areas across the state. A member of the borage family (Boraginaceae) its delicate blossoms add color to Alaska's hills and valleys during the brief summer months.

The Forget-Me-Not was designated the official state flower of Alaska because it is thought to be a flower of constancy and perseverance; traits which perfectly characterized Alaska's first intrepid pioneers.

The best time to see the alpine forget-me-not is midsummer, from late June to late July.

Flowers - April - September. Bright, clear blue, 5 petals in a disc, with little yellow "ring" at the center.
Leaves - Basal leaves elliptical and hairy, in a rosette at the bottom, about 2 cm long.
Habitat - Rocky mountainous areas, woods, humid fields. Altitudes of 700-2800 m.

One species, Myosotis rupicola, which we shall note again as M. alpestris, loves rocks and stones, and will thrive in a comparatively dry position. It is one of Alaskan Flower Essence Project essences its use is as follows: "Opening our hearts to allow the release of fear and pain held deep in the subconscious; remembering our original innocence. "

Alaska Statutes.
Title 44. State Government
Chapter 9. State Seal, Flag, and Emblems
Section 50. State Flower.

The wild native forget-me-not is the state flower and floral emblem.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae -- Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta -- Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons
Subclass	Asteridae
Order	Lamiales
Family	Boraginaceae -- Borage family
Genus	Myosotis L. -- forget-me-not P
Species	Myosotis asiatica (Vesterg.) Schischkin & Sergievskaja – Asian forget-me-not Myosotis alpestris auct. non F.W. Schmidt

State Flowers

Find images and a brief history of the flowers representing, usually by legislative action, the state symbols of each of the fifty states. Many of the state flowers are actually trees -- some states have chosen the same species as state tree and as state flower.

flow·er (flour)
n.
1.
a. It is the reproductive structure of many seed-bearing plants, typically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs, like stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals. b. Such a structure having showy or colorful parts; a blossom.
2. A plant that is cultivated or cherished for its blossoms. 3. The condition or a time of having developed flowers: The violets were in full flower. 4. Something, such as an decoration or a figure of speech that resembles a flower in shape, fineness, or attractiveness.

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Alaska Symbols

Alaska Flower

Wild Native Forget-Me-Not

(Myosotis alpestris)

Adopted on April 28, 1917.

Taxonomic Hierarchy