National Floral Symbols of India

The National Floral Symbols of India includes, India's National Flower, India's National Tree, and Indian National Fruit. Besides these, every state in India has its own symbol (for example, State Flowers of India, State Trees of India). These symbols are as follows:

National Flower

Common Name: Lotus

Scientific Name: Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn

Local Name: Kamal

National Tree

Common Name:  Indian Banyan, Indian Fig

Scientific Name: Ficus Benghalensis

Local Name:  Vata

National Fruit

Common Name: Mango

Scientific Name: Mangifera Indica (Mango Tree)

Local Name:  Aam

REFERENCES

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Data:

National Flower

http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=4

National Tree

http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=5

National Fruit

http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=13

Images:

National Flower

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Sacred_lotus_Nelumbo_nucifera.jpg

National Tree

https://bharathgyanblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/vat-vriksha.jpg

National Fruit

http://iex360.com/images/mango_king_of_fruits03_ripe.jpg

State Tree of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Botantical Name: Pterocarpus dalbergioides

Scientific Classification:

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Pterocarpus

Common Name: Andaman Padauk

Pterocarpus dalbergioides is indigenous to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Andaman Padauk is known for its reddish colour timber used in the manufacturing of wooden objects.

Peacock Plant

Botanical Name:

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Scientific Classification:

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Caesalpinia

Common Name:

Peacock Plant, Peacock Flower Plant, Pride of Barbados, Red Bird of Paradise, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana

Local Name (Hindi Name) :

Guletura

Plant Description :

The flowers of Caesalpinia pulcherrima bloom throughout the year. The Caesalpinia pulcherrima is commonly known by names such as Peacock Plant, Peacock Flower Plant, Pride of Barbados, Red Bird of Paradise, Mexican Bird of Paradise, and Dwarf Poinciana. In India, this plant is either referred by its botantical name, that is, Caesalpinia pulcherrima or by two of its popular common names, that is, Peacock Plant (or Peacock Flower Plant) and Pride of Barbados. Some people confuse Caesalpinia pulcherrima plant as Gulmohar. This is because of the many similarities between the Gulmohar and Guletura (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).

Four o’clock Plant

Botanical Name:

Mirabilis jalapa

Scientific Classification:

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Nyctaginaceae

Genus: Mirabilis

Common Name:

Four o’clock Plant, Marvel of Peru

Local Name (Hindi Name) :

Gul abbas

Plant Description:

The Four o’clock plant is known by many names. The botanical name of the Four o’clock plant is Mirabilis jalapa. In ancient times, Mirabilis jalapa was referred to as Krishnakali. In South India, the Mirabilis jalapa plant is known as andhi mandarai (Tamil Nadu), naalumani poovu (Kerela),  sanje mallige (Karnataka), chandrakantha (Andhra Pradesh), In North India, the Mirabilis jalapa plant is known by it’s hindi name, Gul abbas. However, if someone refers to the Mirabilis jalapa plant as not Four o’clock plant, but Marvel of Peru plant, don’t be confused. In the sixteenth century, the Mirabilis jalapa plant was exported from Peru to the different parts of the world.

The Mirabilis jalapa plant is an ornamental plant. This plant was once considered the gardener’s favorite. However in modern times, the popularity of the plant has been taken over by Periwinkle. The reason being is that the flower of a Periwinkle plant last much longer than the flower of a Mirabilis jalapa plant.  Hence, you will have to do some searching in the gardens of India, to spot Mirabilis jalapa.

The reason behind the name ‘Four o’clock’, is that according to legend, the Four o’clock plant can be best viewed at Four o’clock in the afternoon. The flowers of a Four o’clock plant can be pink, yellow, white, and (rarely) blue. Many a times, it is the blue flower that gets most noticed, and hence a Four o’clock ‘blue’ color flower plant  is costlier as compared to the rest.

Aster

Botanical Name: 
Aster amellus

Scientific Classification:
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aster

Common Name: 
Michaelmas Daisy, Aster

Plant Description:

The color of an Aster flower can be purple, pink, white, red, and blue. The above photo is of an aster purple color flower plant. This is widely found. However, difficult to maintain in the warmer climate. The Aster amellus plant needs full sunlight and a porous soil. This plant is not to be confused with Kalimeris indica, commonly referred to as Indian aster.