Do you have any idea what a Nigerian national flower is?
Not surprisingly, less attention has been given to this country’s symbol. All the Nigerians care about is the coat of arms, the country’s flag, the anthem, and the promise.
They forgot that the country’s flower is one of the country’s emblems and has a unique meaning as well as the others.
Since you are interested in knowing the country’s flowers, you will certainly find this post interesting and educational as well. We will discuss the national flower and its particular significance.
Before continuing our discussion, it will be helpful to take a brief look at what a country’s emblems are.
Country’s Symbol
A country’s emblem is an independent body that represents a country’s community throughout the universe.
It could be a sovereign nation, federal integration, a country in a state of the colony, other dependence, or even an ethnic, cultural community that is considered a nation with no political autonomy.
Unmatchable of the main reasons for instituting a country’s symbol is to unite people through the creation of visual, verbal, and other iconic representations of a country’s goals, values, and history.
All of these emblems are frequently used as part of a patriotic celebration.
Nigerian National Flower
For those unfamiliar with the country’s flowers, this is another fantastic occasion for you. The Nigerian flower is “Costus Spectabilis”. Some people do call it “Yellow Trumpet”.
If you are familiar with the Nigerian Coat of Arm, you may find the country’s flower on the bed of green grass.
‘Costus Spectabilis’ is originally made up of golden color, but on the armed coats, it is painted in red with an unexplainable reason. Nevertheless, it means Nigeria’s beauty concerning its ‘uniqueness’ and ‘prosperity.
Costus Spectatorbilis is present in most areas of the country.
Origin of Costus Spectabilism
This blooming plant is an African herb that is low and perennial. It is commonly found in parts of Sierra Leone, Sudan, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.
Costus Spectabilis roots have been used as a fragrance ingredient right out of history. It is also believed that the plant has been used as a medicinal product for more than a thousand years.
In case you are not aware, the Costus Spetabilis was one of the goods used on commercial routes during the slave trade. The plant is usually gold-yellow to red when it is in a smaller form of a trumpet with a wider ruffled.
There are an estimated 1400 species of Costus Spectabilis, including other ornamental plants such as edible ginger.
That’s why some people classify Costus in the ginger family and is sometimes referred to as spiral ginger.
In addition, the species of this plant develop well in full sun and produce beautiful nuances which in turn beautify the environment.
Why is Costus Spectabilis a Preferred symbol for Nigeria?
In Nigeria, yellow is a symbol of sunlight and it is also associated with “wisdom and knowledge”.
Actually, in English and other languages, the flowering plant means smart. Even in the Islamic religion, which is the dominant religion in the country, the gold-yellow color signifies wisdom.
Moreover, in medieval Europe, the yellow color symbolizes «reason». That’s why most of their science schools use yellow as the ‘reason for their research’.
The color is said to be of ambiance and contradiction. Therefore, is associated with optimism and fun, though it sometimes depicts a bad impression, like jealousy, betrayal, and duplicity.
Looking at how symbolic Costus Spectabilis is and how it flora inland, Nigerians believe that God created the country to look like a paradise on earth.
Nigeria is lucky and blessed to have a tropical paradise with such a beautiful exotic bloom.
Given the diversity of the culture and how brilliant the locals are, the Costus Spectabilis is the best replica of the country.
Why is Nigerian National Follower Painted in Red?
As you may see above, the plant is preferred due to the significance of its golden yellow color.
Nonetheless, Nigeria has painted Costus Spectabilis in red as its country’s symbol. As is currently the case, no one can say whether it is an error or not, but the government has done nothing about its color.
However, in some world gardens and botanical centers, you can see some Costus Spectabilis plants in red.
But Nigeria does not grow such a red Costus Spectabilis, and yet it is part of the country’s symbol.
Other Country’s Symbol on the Coat of Arm
The Costus Spectabilis is not the only country’s symbol on the coat or arm. Therefore, it will not be nice if we terminate this discussion without taking a brief look at those symbols on the coat of arms. The Nigerian coat of arms was introduced and adopted in May 1960. It has a few images with significant meanings.
- On the «Coat of Arm», one can see two horses painted white. They trailed horse’s means dignity.
- You can also see a ‘Red Eagle’ standing on a shield painted in black. This beautiful eagle symbolizes the «strength of the nation».
- The Black Shield along with the green crown on the shield means the fertile soil in the country.
- The two white lines in the form of “Y” represent the two major rivers across Nigeria. That’s the river Niger and Benue.
- Followed by the Costus Spectabilis (yellow trumpet) that is placed on the ground where the black shield stands upon is considered to be the country’s flower. The flower stands for the beauty of the country.
- Finally, Nigeria has a motto of “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”. It was introduced in 1978 to inspire people to be united, to be faithful, and to live in peace. This way Nigerians can grow in wisdom and become stronger.
Costus Spectatorbilis (yellow trumpet) Being an important plant worldwide due to the significance of its color. That is why Nigeria adopts it under the country’s symbol.
For those who did not know the country’s flower, at least now you recognize the name of the flower, its origin, and why it’s part of the country’s symbol.