Floriography

Floriography is a science that requires but little study. Some flowers almost bear written upon their upturned faces the thoughts of which they are living representatives.

Time was, the author assures us, "when no gallant knight or gentle dame could aspire to good breeding unless perfectly conversant with floriography."

Victorians also gloried in "floriography", or written alphabets of flowers that assigned each flower a certain quality, such as friendship, hope, or gratitude.

Floriography became popular in Victorian times when strict etiquette didn't allow women to express their feelings freely. So they did it coyly, using the silent language of flowers to express their sentiments to their admirers, and vice versa.

Just as many cultures help create the global economy, so do countless floriographies manifest peribology.

Floriography was popular in Victorian times. Bouquets called tussy-mussies were sent as coded messages, allowing the sender to express feelings that couldn't be spoken aloud. You could say almost anything with flowers, in the right combination.

Hundreds of flowers were assigned meanings in floriographies of the day. A yellow carnation signified disappointment or rejection, hibiscus meant consumed by love, elderflower symbolized zeal, lavender stood for love and violet indicated modesty or virtue.