chrysanthemum
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GC: n

S: RHS – https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/chrysanthemum (last access: 5 September 2024); NCBI – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10582400/ (last access: 5 September 2024).

N: 1. chrysanthemum (n): Composite plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, the national flower of Japan, 1550s, from Latin chrysanthemum, from Greek khrysanthemon “marigold,” literally “golden flower,” from khrysos “gold” (see “chryso-“) + anthemon “a flower,” from PIE *andh– “bloom” (see “anther”). “The generic name is now rarely appropriate, as only a small number have yellow flowers” [Century Dictionary].

  • mum (n): Abbreviation of chrysanthemum, by 1915 in the jargon of gardeners.

2. Also known as: Chrysanthemum.

  • chrysanthemum, (genus Chrysanthemum), genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae), native primarily to subtropical and temperate areas of the Old World. Chrysanthemums are especially common in East Asia, where they are often depicted in art, and many are popular ornamentals.
  • Most plants of the genus are perennial herbs or subshrubs. Many have simple aromatic leaves that alternate along the stem. Some have both disk and ray flowers in the heads, but others lack ray or disk flowers. Cultivated species and hybrids usually have large flower heads; those of wild species are much smaller.
  • Numerous cultivated species, often called mums, are grown as fall-blooming ornamentals and are important in the floral industry. Florists’ chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum ×morifolium) has more than 100 cultivars, including button, pompon, daisy, and spider forms.
  • Chrysanthemum tea has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and is usually made from the dried flowers of florists’ chrysanthemum or Dendranthema indicum (formerly C. indicum). It is commonly used as an herbal treatment for hypertension and is said to help treat fevers, headaches, and inflammation.
  • The powdered flower heads of Dalmation pellitory, or pyrethrum daisy (C. cinerariifolium), are one of the chief sources of the insecticide pyrethrum, used in organic farming. Numerous other Chrysanthemum species contain pyrethrin compounds and are commonly grown as “companion plants” to repel insects from susceptible ornamental or edible plants.
  • The taxonomy of the genus is contentious and has undergone a number of revisions. Species formerly included in the genus Chrysanthemum include corn marigold (Glebionis segetum); costmary (Tanacetum balsamita); feverfew (T. parthenium); tansy (T. vulgare); Marguerite, or Paris daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens); and Shasta daisy (hybrid forms of Leucanthemum maximum).

3. Seed Plants (Spermatophyta): chrysanthemum.

  • Latin: Chrysanthemum x morifolium; Dendranthema grandiflorum.
  • A plant of the family Asteraceae.

4. chrysanthemum: common name also used to refer to the genus Chrysanthemum.

5. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention “Floating Chrysanthemums”—The Naval Battle of Okinawa (from late March to June 1945).

  • The first of ten major kamikaze attacks occurred on 6 and 7 April 1945. The Japanese term was Kikusui (“Floating Chrysanthemums”) Operation No. 1, in which 355 kamikaze aircraft and another 340 planes in a conventional strike and escort roles attacked U.S. forces off Okinawa. U.S. naval intelligence knew the major raid was coming and senior U.S. commanders were warned, and the ships received general warning. Many of the kamikaze pilots had much less experience then those at Lingayen Gulf in January 1945, and many fell easy prey to the large numbers of radar-directed U.S. Navy fighters. Those that made it through the fighter gauntlet tended to go after the first ship they saw, and the U.S. destroyers on the northern radar picket stations bore the brunt of the attacks.

S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=chrysanthemum (last access: 5 September 2024). 2. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/plant/Chrysanthemum (last access: 5 September 2024). 3 & 4. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=chrysanth%C3%A8me&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 5 September 2024). 5. Historynavy – https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-044.html (last access: 5 September 2024).

SYN: florist’s chrysanthemum, lorist’s daisy. (depending on context)

S: TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=chrysanth%C3%A8me&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 5 September 2024)

CR: kamikaze